Lack of hygiene in water kiosks of Berhampur

Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) has drawn flak for lack of hygiene at temporary water kiosks in this south Odisha city.
With temperature hovering around 40 degree Celsius, the civic body had opened 40 such kiosks (Jala Chhatra) to quench the thirst of commuters.
Sources said street dogs can be seen loitering at some kiosks, while in others water is stored in unhygienic conditions. "The purpose behind opening these kiosks has been defeated as people refrain from using the service," said S R Rout, a social campaigner.
Sudhir Sabat of Indian Society of Rural Development, a city-based NGO, said the civic body should deploy one person for proper upkeep of each kiosk. "The corporation should have consulted NGOs before opening the kiosks and asked the outfits to run them. The earthen pots are filled with water from tankers without proper cleaning," he said.

BMC's health officer Subhra Kanta Das said water kiosks were opened according to the government guidelines. "The water in the pots is changed regularly. Since the corporation is understaffed, three persons have been entrusted with the task of looking after 10 such kiosks," he said.
Das said mischief-mongers have broken pots at the kiosks in the past. "We are planning to rope in locals for proper upkeep of the water sheds," he added.
Additional district medical officer (public health) L K Rath said anganwadi workers or Accredited social health activists are running water kiosks in rural areas. At some places, the panchayat is responsible for maintenance of the kiosks, he added.