MC depts pass the buck

Rajinder Nagarkoti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 25

A day after a major fire broke out in Sector 44 in an effort to ignite a beehive, officials of the Municipal Corporation do not know who is responsible for removing beehives in the city.

The MC officials are busy passing the buck over the issue. With the departments of Medical Officers of Health (MOH) and Horticulture passing the buck, the worst sufferers are the residents.

Sources said around two years ago, the MOH Department had sought a legal opinion from the Law Department as to whether or not the issue came under the jurisdiction of the pest control wing of the MOH Department. The law officer is reported to have replied that the matter was not under the preview of the pest control wing as bees did not come under the category of pests. After this, the MOH Department sent a communication to the Horticulture Department saying that in future cases regarding removal of beehives should be handled by it as a majority of the hives were on trees which came under its preview.

However, officials of the MC Horticulture Department maintain that only the MOH Department handled complaints relating to beehives. The Horticulture Department has no such official orders to remove beehives, an official said. 

5 complaints received daily

Records of the MC reveal that daily, around five complaints pertaining to beehives are received. However, the MC does not know how to deal with the situation.

Ban on burning beehives

KR Chirwatkar, a senior entomologist, who was earlier associated with the MC, said burning of beehives was banned throughout the country.

Helpline number

Toll-free number related to complaints pertaining to MC works, including removal of beehives: 155304