DERA GHAZI KHAN, May 28: Damaged water supply lines will be replaced in the city before next summer at a cost of Rs200 million to supply clean drinking water to the people to avoid recurrence of problems like gastroenteritis.

This was stated by District Nazim Sardar Maqsood Ahmad Khan Leghari during his visit to the DHQ hospital to inquire after gastroenteritis patients.

He said sale of rotten and cut fruit had been banned to avoid spread of the disease.

He said Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi would be requested to ensure early release of funds to replace the faulty water supply pipelines in DG Khan.

District Coordination Officer Khusro Pervaiz Malik said the situation regarding gastroenteritis was not alarming and most of the people faced the problem due to change in weather and use of contaminated water at their homes.

He said two blocks of the city — block 30 and 50 — had been spotted as the most affected and officials had been directed to immediately replace water lines there.

He ordered setting up of control rooms at tehsil level to ensure speedy medical attention to those who suffered from the disease.

EDO (Health) Dr Faiz Ali Jaskani said that a 100-bed ward had been allocated to treat gastroenteritis patients and adequate supply of required medicines and ORS had been made available.

He advised the people to utilise milk or water after boiling, wash their hands before eating, avoid rotten fruit and ‘kulfi’, keep the eatables covered and ensure maximum liquid intake, especially ORS in case of dehydration. —APP