Dikshit's statement today pointed out that periodic sample tests are being conducted and no contamination had been noticed in water coming from the plant.

As per figures supplied by MCD, only 244 jaundice cases had been reported in the city by June as against 640 such cases in 1997, she said. She argued that if water contamination led to jaundice then the number of gastroenteritis cases would have been much higher.

Water samples lifted by the surveillance team from Prahladpur, Khera Khurd, Naya Bans, Holambi Kalan, Haiderpur Village and Chandni Mahal areas were tested and found ``satisfactory''.

About Rs 9 crore have already been sanctioned to replace the old and eroded water pipelines in the Capital, Dikshit informed.

She also directed the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to ban water supplies through private tankers, operation of online booster pumps, borewells and shallow tubewells and ensure that all hand-pumps are painted red so people at large do not use the water supplied by the above sources for drinking.

DJB and MCD officials have been asked to enforce the ban strictly. Water can't be supplied from private tubewells set up in group housing societies and in other colonies.