Wake up MC, mosquito menace is here
Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, April 4
The mosquito menace in the city has assumed alarming proportions, giving residents sleepless nights as the municipal corporation has failed to make timely arrangements to maintain the stocks of anti-mosquito medicines and keep its fogging machines and spray teams functional.

City residents have to suffer mosquito bites not only during the night but the day as well and the problem is intense, particularly in open areas where water is stagnating.

While the MC anti-malaria staff is reportedly sitting idle due to the unavailability of malathion, an anti-mosquito medicine, the residents, are forced to spend money on mosquito coils and mats, which are effective only indoors. A large portion of the city population, which has no option but to sleep outdoors, is left to the mercy of the mosquitoes.

Inquiries made by Ludhiana Tribune revealed that of the 14 fogging machines available with the MC, only two were operational, that too only for a few hours daily due to the marginal stock of anti-mosquito drug. Similarly, almost 12 spray teams of two workers each also had little work to do.

Sources in the MC maintained that the proposal for the purchase of sufficient stocks of medicine had already been approved by the Finance and Contracts Committee (F&CC) and the purchase would materialise in about three weeks, but no one could explain why the stock of medicine had not been replenished in time to maintain the anti-mosquito measures during the breeding season and tackle the problem before it could create a nuisance in the city.

The Health Department, which has not much role to play as far as preventive measures against malaria and dengue in the city limits are concerned, is also not well equipped.

The department, according to sources, has no fogging machines and the anti-malaria wing operates only with a couple of spray pumps, that too in rural areas or on the periphery of the city.

An official of the department told Ludhiana Tribune that the Health Department came into the picture only when cases were reported from specific areas of the city.

“However, sufficient stock of anti-mosquito drugs are available to carry out spray operations, wherever needed. A review meeting, under the National Malaria Eradication Programme, was convened today by the Civil Surgeon to assess the preparedness and involve the people in preventive measures against the disease.

An education drive with the theme ‘Malaria Control- Everybody’s’ Concern was also on the anvil, he added.

While health officials claimed that no cases of malaria or dengue had so far been reported, they also admitted that due to a little more than average rains and the lack of adequate preventive steps, the mosquito population had risen manifold. The risk of outbreak of diseases like malaria and dengue had also gone up in the same proportion, they added.

Non-functional fountain a health hazard
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 4
A non-functional fountain at Kitchlu Nagar in the city has not only become an eyesore for residents and other visitors to the colony, but also poses a serious threat to public health and hygiene.

Constructed in 2002 under a beautification plan for the colony, the fountain is yet to start functioning as power connection has not been released. In the absence of proper up keep and maintenance, it has been turned into a dustbin. To add to the woes of the residents, the rainwater stagnates in the space meant for a small water body around the fountain and has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

The surroundings of the place, where the fountain has been constructed, also present a pathetic look, with stray animals, especially pigs, thriving in the area and scattering the garbage all around.

According to Mr Sandeep Kapoor, chairman, Civil Lines Young Society, the sorry state of affairs of the civic services in the area were a direct result of the lack of interest of the area councillor Mr Surjit Singh Ahluwalia, who had not visited the locality even once after winning the election. Civic officials had been informed about the problem, he added.

DMCH athletics meet held
Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, April 4
Harpreet Singh Bains of the 1999 batch in the boys section and Gurmeen Kaur of the 2000 batch in the girls section were adjudged the best athletes in the one-day annual athletics meet of the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital held at Punjab Agricultural University here today.

Earlier, Dr S.C. Ahuja, Principal, DMCH, declared the meet open. Mr Amrit Nagpal, Mr Satish Sanwalka, Mr Dharamvir Bector, members of the DMCH management committee, were present on this occasion. Dr Rajoo Singh Chhina, president, sports council, DMCH, welcomed guests while Dr Sanjeev Uppal, secretary of the council, compered the show.

Results: Boys — 100 m — Harpreet Singh Bains 1, Amanjeet Singh Batth 2, Wishavdeep Singh Dhillon 3; 400 m- Harpreet Singh Bains 1, Wishavdeep Singh Dhillon 2, Amajit Singh Batth; 200 m- Harpreet Singh Bains 1, Sukhvinder Singh 2, Harpreet Singh Thind 3; 100 m- Arihant Jain 1, Saurav Singla 2, Jaspreet Singh 3.

Long jump — Sukhvinder Singh 1, Harpreet Singh Bains 2, Raja 3; high jump — Amanjeet Singh Batth 1, Harpreet Singh Bains 2, Abhinav 3; shot put — Rajeev Sharma 1, Gurpreet Singh Ubhi 2, Naveet Singh Bal 3; hammer throw — Rajeev Sharma 1, Raja 2, Jawant Singh 3; Discus throw — Divesh Mahajan 1, Rajeev Sharma 2, Naveet Singh Bal 3; Relay race- Batch 1999 1.

Girls — 100 m — Amrita Singh 1, Sapna 2, Aditi 3; 400 m- Gurmeen 1, Simi 2, Jasleen 3; 200 m- Gurmeen 1, Simi 2, Daljinder Kaur 3; long jump — Gurmeen 1, Amrita Singh 2, Kawal 3; shot put — Kanwal 1, Divya Mittal 2, Monica 3; discus throw — Divya Mittal 1, Ankur 2, Kawal 3; relay race —Batch 2000, 1.

Prohibitory orders issued
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 4
The SDM, Ludhiana (East), Ms Bhawna Garg, has issued orders under Section 144 of the Cr PC, prohibiting carrying of firearms within the boundaries of Bhupana village for a period of two months from today.

The orders were issued after the gram panchayat of the village complained that certain persons were terrorising them and wanted to reap wheat on 60-65 acres of land which was handed over to the panchayat by the administration some time ago.

She visited the village on April 1 and was informed by eyewitnesses on March 30, that some gun wielding persons had come to the village, destroyed tubewells, threatened villagers with dire consequences and also fired in the air before leaving.