Children can''t eat, study here, courtesy houseflies

Satinder Pal Singh

Zirakpur, May 6

Students of Government Middle School, Bazigar Basti, Zirakpur, are having a tough time dealing with houseflies.

Reason: Unhygienic conditions at a poultry farm, situated adjacent to the school. Children's here are living under a constant threat of an epidemic for no fault of theirs as the authorities concerned as well as the local administration have turned a blind eye to the issue.

Sources at the school said despite approaching the authorities several times, no action had been initiated so far. They added that excreta of chickens was not disposed of properly, resulting in stench that hangs in the air and leads to breeding of flies. "Houseflies are seen all over the school and surrounding areas," the sources alleged.

“The flies swoop down on food. Students constantly try to ward off flies while trying to eat their mid-day meal," alleged one of the teachers on a condition of anonymity.

The teacher further added that houseflies were thriving and there was stench emanating from the poultry farm, making lives of hundreds of the schoolchildren miserable.

Moreover, it also distracts children from their studies. The school authorities have already demanded the shifting of the school or the closure of the poultry farm.

Residents of the area too alleged that the administration was not taking any step, despite repeated complaints, against poultry farm owners for violating pollution norms.

“It is we who are left to suffer all," alleged one of the mid-day meal cooks, adding that it was very difficult to cook food. “We are more concerned about the health of our children. If it continues, it might even lead to an epidemic,” they alleged.

When contacted, Ruhi Dugg, SDM, Dera Bassi said the issue was not in her knowledge and she would pay a visit to the school next week to take a stock of the situation.

Kanwaldeep Kaur,SDO, Punjab Pollution Control Board, said, “We have already visited the site and booked the owner of the poultry farm for not conforming to cleanliness standards."