Dehradun/Haldwani, Sept. 24 -- Chief secretary Anand Bardhan on Wednesday ordered comprehensive technical surveys and ground verification of the state's water supply network and implementation of a clear standard operating procedure (SOP) for inspection of drinking water and sewerage lines. He also sought an explanation from officials as to the lack of timely information about the water contamination crisis in Nainital's Jeolikote and surrounding areas. It was a matter of "serious concern that information about the contaminated water situation was not received in time despite the state having an extensive field-level network comprising teachers, patwaris, Gram Panchayat officials and tubewell operators," said Bardhan, at a meeting with the officials concerned across departments. Those present included members of the nine-member committee led by Bardhan tasked with addressing the issue. On Tuesday, the state high court directed senior officials to explain the government response in person at a September 29 hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning the outbreak. The court also sought details of the steps taken so far by the nine-member panel. Bardhan directed officials to establish an effective information and feedback mechanism using this network so that information about drinking water quality and other health-related issues could be obtained immediately. "The mechanism should also be reviewed regularly", he said. Each facet of the state's water supply network must be geo-mapped and geo-referenced using GIS, he ordered. He also directed officials to physically verify major water supply schemes across the state within 15 days. The verification should check for leakages at sources, storage facilities, pipelines, sewer lines, crossing points and consumer connections, he said. Officials were also directed to maintain regular records of storage tank cleaning, chlorination, chlorine availability and usage, and testing of drinking water for coliform bacteria and other essential parameters. Bardhan directed officials to prepare and strictly implement a clear Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for inspecting drinking water and sewerage lines. Referring to an SOP issued after a similar outbreak in Indore last year, he said that whenever contamination occurred, officials should identify the level at which the SOP was not followed and determine the reasons. Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board was directed to ensure regular testing of drinking water quality in major cities and monitor sewage treatment plants (STPs) and surface water. Bardhan also ordered surprise inspections of all STPs in the state. The health department was directed to immediately send teams to locations reporting contaminated drinking water or similar problems. Systems at the CMO and CMS levels should be reactivated, with medical teams kept ready for health surveillance and testing over the next 15 days, he said. Bardhan also called for a permanent surveillance mechanism involving district-level committees. He further directed departments to seek the assistance of retired linemen and experienced field personnel to repair and maintain old networks, pipelines, crossings and other sensitive locations. The CS warned that if negligence was found prima facie in any such incident in future, strict action would be taken against department heads....