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places must be registered and a license obtained for keeping them. Even a
nominal fee will have a deterrent effect.—
i. The construction of new open wells must be strictly prohibited.
ii. The erection of new cisterns must also be strictly prohibited,
and these should be made to conform to a given standard of safety as
regards protection from mosquitoes.
iii. The use of garden tanks and tubs should be subject to regula-
tion and their multiplication should be restricted.
Having taken steps to restrict these, it will be possible to set about the
reduction of those already in existence :—
i. Wells.—The protection of these is an important measure. The subsoil
level of the water is very near the surface and not much trouble is required to
dig a new one ; all the wells are open and most of them kutcha built, i. e., the
brick and concrete work extends to a depth of few feet only, the result being
that the earth work at the bottom crumbles away making the whole structure
unsafe; and worse still, it allows an easy contamination from surface drainage;
and the water in some cases is so foul that even fish will find it difficult to live
in them. 60 per cent. of the wells breed larvae, and 2 per cent. those of Stegomyia.
From very few wells is water taken for drinking purposes and religious
ceremonials, and the great majority of them are used for purposes of washing,
bathing, and for animals. 62 of the total of 513 wells are never used and the
owners are willing to close them. An increased water-supply and laying on
of taps to every house will easily do away with this nuisance and dispense with
the necessity of storing water in gharras—
A. Owners should be obliged to register the wells and protect them
in any of the following ways and allow a periodical inspection.
B. (i) They can be filled up and permanently closed (all foul and
sewage contaminated wells must be closed).
(ii) They can be completely covered with stone or brick work, or
enforced concrete, with no opening except that for the pump to be used for
drawing water (the depth of no well will preclude the use of a hand-pump).
(iii) They may be similarly covered, and a small opening left, which
is fitted with trap door and stocked with suitable fish. The trap door
should have iron gauze with 20 meshes to the inch and be provided with
a padlock. These should he allowed only in eases after personal inquiries.
(iv) Or if a well cannot be concreted, it should be similarly stocked
with a sufficient number of fish and kept always free from weeds and
floating matter.
If in spite of these precautions the well cannot be kept free, e.g., from the
neglect of the residents, steps should be taken to close the well.
2. Cisterns.—These are at present badly constructed and badly situated
They are sometimes on top of houses, and are fouled by dust and excreta of
birds, etc., or in cramped places as under stairs where rats, cockroaches, etc., have
an easy access to them ; most of the residents think that the lid is. superfluous.
Those that were exposed to the sun, were mostly free from larvae because of
the heating of the water :—
A. A license and a periodical inspection.
B. i Perfect fitting trap doors and the open end of the over-flow
pipe should be covered with gauze.
ii Thorough cleaning every 10 days.
iii They should, whenever possible, be built exposed to the sun.