The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

HEALTH

Pneumonic plague in city?
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 13
With seven patients in the PGI suffering from a communicable form of pneumonic illness and with unconfirmed sources in the hospital stating that it can be the deadly pneumonic plague, are the city residents at any risk of being exposed to the disease causing bacteria?

“No”, says Dr Rajesh Kumar, Head of the Department of Community Medicine, PGI. “There is no cause of worry for anyone in the city even if the seven patients in the PGI are found to be suffering from pneumonic plague,’’ he says.

“Those who are at the maximum risk are those who are attending to these patients. They are our own doctors and staff members and are taking all possible precautions in handling these patients. The staff is being given antibiotics as prophylactic treatment and there is virtually no chance of the disease spreading out of the hospital unit.”

Stating that there is no doubt that it is a communicable disease, Dr Rajesh Kumar says, ‘‘It is a treatable disease. The first one or two patients die because they are not taken care of for the problem that they have. But once the disease is diagnosed, the situation becomes under control and whosoever comes with those symptoms is immediately taken care of.”

Dr Kumar reiterates that it will not be proper to say at this stage that these patients are suffering from pneumonic plague. “Preliminary tests can be misleading. The maximum we can say at this stage is that these patients are suspected to have that disease,” he says.

Do the city residents have to be on the lookout for any particular set of symptoms? “If the disease is pneumonic plague then the early symptoms are so severe that one will naturally look for medical help,” he says. And by when can a green signal be given to city residents? ‘‘On an average, it is 10 days since the last case was detected. We calculate the maximum possible incubation period and if no more cases are reported during this period, the city is safe’’, he says.

“One need not worry at all. We, too, live in this city and will be the first ones to issue necessary warnings or guidelines if we see that the situation might go out of control,’’ says Dr Kumar.

Meanwhile, Dr S.C. Verma, head of the department of Internal Medicine, PGI has said the hospital is fully prepared to deal with any exigency and the patients who are suffering from the pneumonic illness are being taken care of in isolation.

According to sources, two more such cases have been reported from outside the city.

SPORTS

Cricket meet from Feb 24
Our Sports reporter

Chandigarh, February 13
The second edition of the Jesus Christ Cricket Trophy will be held from February 24 at various grounds of the city, according to Mr Surinder Singh, organising secretary, who is also the secretary of the Chandigarh Cricket Association. According to Mr Naresh Paul, Chairman of End Time Harvest Ministries, this tournament will have winners cash prize of Rs 11000 and for the runner-up Rs 5,100.

The tournament will be played on knock out basis and all the matches will be played on every Saturday, Sunday and on gazetted holidays. The quarter-finals onwards to be played of 35 overs a side. Entries close on February 20 with Mr Kamal Mehra at Phone-654857.

Lawn tennis meet: The lawn tennis team of the Haryana police will take part in the third All-India Police Lawn Tennis Championship to be held at Chandigarh from February 25. Mr K.P. Singh, DIG (CID), Haryana, to be the captain of the team.

ADMINISTRATION

DC appeals to keep town clean
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, February 13
The Haryana Government plans to develop a drain passing through Sectors 2, 4, 12 and 12-A on the pattern of Chandigarh Leisure Valley in the town, said Deputy Commissioner Jyoti Arora while presiding over a meeting of senior citizens, representatives of various welfare associations, members of industries association and senior officers of the district administration. She announced that they had launched a campaign for the beautification and sanitation of the town and appealed to the citizens of Panchklula that they should not throw garbage and polythene bags on the roads, streets and open places.

She said the malba should be thrown at two places identified by HUDA, in low lying vacant area of Panchkula extension, Sector 23 (part II) and Sector 6 MDC, should not put the building material like bricks, cement and bajri on the road, use minimum water while washing cars, scooters and floor and not overflow the water on the roads as it causes inconvenience to the public.

As per the provision of the Haryana Non-biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act, 1998, throwing of any type of polythene carrybags, plastic and PVC pipes on the roads and open spaces and using recycled polythene is an offence as per provisions in the HMA, 1971, she said. She appealed that people should not deface the public property. The district administration would take strict action against who were found guilty of any offence under the provisions of the Act.

MCC to issue fresh notice to cable operators
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 13
The Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) today decided to issue a fresh one-week notice to cable operators to pay it charges imposed by the House.

This was decided here today at a meeting of Corporation officials chaired by Assistant Commissioner-I Ashok Vashishth and attended by Law Officer K. K. Monga and Executive Engineer (Building and Road) S. K. Chadha.

The meeting was held after Mr Vashishth sought explanation from officials why recoveries were not made.

The Municipal Corporation has lost revenue during the last two years due to the non-payment of charges by cable operators imposed by the MCC.

The Corporation had imposed Rs 1000 per sector per month charge on 117 small operators while the big operators were asked to give Rs 1 lakh per month.

The House decision was diluted subsequently with the Finance and Contract Committee reducing the charge for big operators to Rs 20,000 keeping the fee for small ones as it was. Initially certain operators paid the charge but discontinued the practice when others did not come forward to pay.

MCC’s assurance to Home Secretary
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 13
The Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) today assured Home Secretary R S Gujral to spend the full planned expenditure amount of Rs 23.75 crore during the current fiscal ending on March 31.

This was informed to the Home Secretary by Assistant Commission-I of the MCC Ashok Vashishth at a meeting here today called by Mr Gujral to review progress of planned expenditure for departments under the Home Secretary. The MCC informed that as of today, it has spent around Rs 18 crore on development of the city and by March 31, the rest of the amount would be exhausted.

Mr Vashishth was joined by Chief Accounts Officer of the Municipal Corporation H. S. Sood at the meeting.

Ban order extended
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 13
The order banning carrying of licensed firearms in public places was extended by the District Magistrate, Mr M. Ramsekhar. The order, which came into force on February 12 and will remain in force till April 12, says that some members of the public have been seen moving around with small weapons tucked under their waist belt for show off.

The order shall not apply to police or military personnel and other government servants if called upon to carry firearms in connection with their official duties.

The District Magistrate also extended his order to ban certain activities north of Madhya Marg. Under the order, which came into force yesterday and is valid till April 12, the DM banned holding of processions, rallies, dharnas, raising of slogans, making speeches, carrying of lathis and also assembly of five or more persons north of Madhya Marg.

The order shall, however, not apply in the case of police or paramilitary or military personnel or any other government servant on official duty. The order will not affect customary and ritualistic processions in connection with weddings and funerals. The order shall not apply to processions and meetings for which prior permission in writing of the DC or the Subdivisional Magistrate (SDM) has been obtained.