A note on the sanitation of Calcutta [and other papers] / [by W.J. Simpson and others].

  • William Simpson
Date:
1893-1897
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A note on the sanitation of Calcutta [and other papers] / [by W.J. Simpson and others]. 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.

    12/146 page 12
    C m J: ■ 31. The recommendation of the ComplaintsCommittee was nevertheless sanctioned, and it has been impossible notwithstanding many complaints on the part of the neighbours and the public to get this continuing nuisance removed. > 32. The sanctioning by these two Committees of plans and the approval The action of these two Committees has had an injurious in- Of applications which have been Objected fluence on the sanitation of the town. _ to by the Executive has had a gradual undermining influence on efficiency in the sanitation of the town and has created a decided tendency on the part of people to erect buildings, huts and privies without obtaining sanction, or in deliberate disregard to the existing Bye-laws and Regulations in the hope of having them sanctioned by the Com- mittee, if objected to by the Executive. When the officers bring such cases to notice it unhappily brings them into opposition with the Complaints Committee and exercises a demoralising influence on the subordinates who as a natural consequence become disposed to overlook cases. In the Annual Report jor 1894 I showed that out of a list oj cases placed before the Boads, Conservancy and Buildings Committee 90 per cent, of the deviations, to which the Executive took exception, were sanctioned. 33. The Complaints Committee also prevent or delay sanitary improve- ments which the Executive consider necessary. The following are examples of delay:— (1) At 12, Juggernath Dutt's Lane there is a sloping privy with several compartments. Sloping privies are mere- Examples- ly sloping slits in the wall of the pre- mises and the excreta drops through this slit and that which does not adhere to the wall falls on the ground outside. They are as insanitary contrivance s as can possibly be imagined. This particular one is situated between two tanks. Erom one tank the privy is situated about 5 feet distant and Irom the other about 8 feet. The Superintendent of the North Division served a notice under Section 286 on the owner for demolition on 11th April, 1896. The matter was brought before the Complaints Committee and a Sub-Committee was formed to enquire and report. The Sub-Committee have up to date not sub- mitted a report and the nuisance still remains, (2) Another example is that of a privy at 6-4, Bailors m Dey's Street Ward 6, Jorasanko. It was rebuilt without sanction within 4 feet of a tank and is one of the worst types of privies with cess-pools. A notice under Section 286 was served for its demolition on 3rd December, 1895. Oa non-compliance the owner was prosecuted on the 28th December, 1895. The case came on for hearing on 3rd March, 1896 and was adjourned, because the case had been placed before the Complaints Committee which formed a Sub-Committee for enquiry and report. The Magistrate adjourn- ed it to the 19th March and again to the 28th March, but as the Com- plaints Committee had come to no decision by that time the case was adjourned sine die. The place was inspected by two of the members of the Sub-Com- mittee. No report has yet been submitted and consequently no orders can be passed in the case: meanwhile the privy exists. (3) A third example is that of a privy at 9, Kansaripara Lane where the owner was prosecuted for building a privy without sanction. The Magis- trate made a locnl enquiry and the Ward Commissioner having represented that the new privy had been in existence for the last 30 years the case was thrown out. The Health Department, under these circumstances, asked that the Drainage Department should provide proper flushing arrangements but the subject was brought up before the Complaints Committee which allowed the privy to remain without any arrangements for keeping it clean or in a sani- tary condition. (4) A fourth example is that of a privy at 11, Jugulkissore Das' Lane which was built without sanction; the Health Department objected to it on the
    No text description is available for this image
    No text description is available for this image
    No text description is available for this image