Indian hygiene and demography.

  • International Congress of Hygiene and Demography
Date:
1892
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Indian hygiene and demography. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

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    1872. —Proposed to increase engine-power at Tullali, and to provide a rise at Tullah to increase the supply of water to Calcutta. A committee of expert engineei’S reported in favour of extension of the drainage works to the northern part of the town, estimated to cost Es. 56,08,148. This being beyond the powers of the municipality, the commencement of first and second-class sewers was sanctioned, at an estimated cost of Es. 1,820,242. It is worthy of remai'k that 12 streets and lanes were sev/ered on petition from the inhabitants. A new municipal market making progress. Partial drainage of a large swamp in the Bonorah district. 1873. —Sewerage of Calcutta making rapid progress. Embankment of the river frontage of the Hooghly, to prevent the deposit of filth. A. canal made to connect the Damoodah river with the Banka; the latter river, flowing through the town of Burdwan, was at once the main sewer and chief source of water-supply, but when the waters of the Damoodah were allowed to flow in, the sluggish Banka became rapid and clean. An ancient weir was reconstructed at the east part of the town, and above this point there is now a clean, broad stream, from which it was proposed to draw water for distribution. Another great undertaking was the 0]Den- ing of the Kana Nuddee, which had been closed 30 years before by a zemindar. The opening of the stream gave fair water to a large extent of country. 1874. —Great advances in the sanitation of Dacca, Patna, Durbhunga, and Chittagong. 1875. —Act passed by the Government of Bengal for the punishment of anyone altering or obstructing any canal or drainage work, or cor- rupting or fouling the water of canals, wells, &c. Special attention given to improvement of water tanks at Hooghly and Chinsurah. A new burning ghat, constructed at Dacca at the expense of Baboo Goviud Chunder Datt. Khajah Abdool Gunny gave 10,0001 for the construction of waterworks and 5,0001 for maintenance. Drainage of Bogra town commenced. 1876. —The Calcutta municipality obtained a loan for extension of waterworks. A health officer appointed to the Port of Calcutta, whose duties were to supervise the sanitary condition of the poi’t; to board vessels arriving in port with infectious diseases, to inquire into disease among the shipping, and into the sanitary condition of vessels ; to inspect pilgrim vessels, and to grant certificates of health. Much done for Chitta- gong ; steps taken for waterworks; in the meantime, ten tanks set apart for drinking, and precautions taken to prevent pollution ; surveys made with view to drainage ; old burial grounds closed. Burning ghat fenced in, special hospital for infectious diseases established, 20 public latrines erected, thorough cleansing of town undertaken. In the Tipperah district several new tanks dug, and a canal cut through a jheel to theN.W., which will drain it. Swamp at Patna converted into a public garden by excavating the earth and raising the surrounding level, streets opened out at Durbhunga. 1877. —Useful sanitary improvements going on at the port of Calcutta ; shipping supplied with water Ifom boats fitted with iron tanks and pumps. Drainage in Hoogly and Midnapoor; Berhampoor supplied with nine public latrines; a ditch 1,500 ft. by 50 ft. reclaimed; Bogra drainage completed; drainage works at Darjeeling finished; drainage of Eaipoor swamp com- pleted ; progress with water-works at Dacca ; reclamation of a swamps at Patna ; Kishengunje bazaar improved ; conservancy established at Pooree. 1878. —Many improvements were efiected during the year in the sanitary condition of the Hoogley river. The embanking of the filthy foreshore at Himtolla was completed, thus putting a stop to the accumula- tion of animal and vegetable refuse at that point. All the main roads in Calcutta liave now been provided with brick sewers to the total length of 48’93 miles, and the streets and byeways have been served with pipes to the extent of 94‘64 miles, making a total length of sewers completed this year of 139'33 miles. The water-supply of Calcutta at this period was 8J millions of gallons per diem, of which 6f millions was filtered, the latter increased during the year to millions. Much sanitary work was