Ludhiana MC doesn't buy failed water samples

LUDHIANA: Water samples taken from certain areas prone to an outbreak of gastro may have failed but not for Ludhiana municipal corporation (MC). It has refused to accept reports of the failed samples taken by the district health department. And while the government agencies fight it out, the residents of areas hit by the outbreak last year, have to live the gastro threat daily.
Though civil surgeon Dr SN Tewari refused to comment, official sources said the MC''s refusal is a blatant attempt not to admit responsibility.
The samples were taken from municipal taps in Giaspura and Tajpur Road and got tested at state laboratories but LMC joint commissioner Harjinder Singh rejected the reports saying they did not know from where these were taken.
Interestingly, municipal commissioner SK Sharma had stated in a written note that LMC and civil surgeon office have been taking 240 water samples daily. Singh claimed all these were being taken by MC alone.
Four deaths were reported from Giaspura last year while about 300 people were affected. The miserable sanitary conditions in these areas have put a question mark not only over safe drinking water supply but also exposed the so-called cleanliness drive launched by the MC to prevent the problem from assuming epidemic proportions.
The visit of these areas on Wednesday showed puddles of stagnant water giving putrid smell and heaps of garbage everywhere. At Giaspura village, a farmer Balbir Singh rued that his fields were being used as the garbage dump. A hand pump mechanic Jinder Singh said that last year water samples of handpumps including his own were taken but not this time.
The residential colonies of the area have no drainage system. The problem may arise during rains, said Dr HL Lal of Makkar colony. He has been examining diahorrea cases on daily basis, which he normally refers to civil hospital. No MC or health official visited them for last about four months, he said. Tej Bahadur of adjoining Shanti Nagar added that no fogging was carried out to sanitise the area. Indra colony and Tajpur Road areas presented somewhat similar conditions.
When asked, the joint commissioner failed to give a convincing reply regarding the continuing garbage problem. But he claimed to have taken samples from along Budah nullah area and the reports would be available in 72 hours.
Interestingly, Verma has held meetings of concerned departments to take required steps following reports of gastro outbreak in some parts of the state.
He had specifically directed the LMC authorities to take immediate remedial steps in wake of the failure of water samples.