Authorities slumber sleep in Khanna over threat of dengue and malaria - Hindustan Times
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Authorities slumber sleep in Khanna over threat of dengue and malaria

Hindustan Times | By, Khanna
Aug 19, 2015 08:55 PM IST

Accumulated water at several areas in Khanna, which is 40 km from Ludhiana, is a tell tale in itself as to how serious the administration and health department authorities are regarding control of dengue and malaria cases in areas except Ludhiana city.

Accumulated water at several areas in Khanna, which is 40 km from Ludhiana, is a tell tale in itself as to how serious the administration and health department authorities are regarding control of dengue and malaria cases in areas except Ludhiana city.

While the focus of the officials concerned has been the Ludhiana city area, several areas in Khanna, including the military ground in front of town's municipal council office, are worst hit and facing problems like waterlogging, which is the main cause behind such diseases.

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The area has become a breeding ground for mosquitos, but the officials of the council have not taken any step to check water stagnation during monsoon season when dengue and malaria could create havoc under such situations.

Many migrant families also live in slums at the ground which is situated along the Amloh Road and are vulnerable to water-bone diseases. The officials of the council claim that the land belongs to army and not the state government. However, they fail to reply as to why the water is not removed from the site.

Even the residents say that the authorities have left them in the lurch and are not getting fogging done in all the city areas. Residents also stated that water accumulates for days at several places, but the officials concerned failed to take action.

Besides accumulated water, garbage on the roadside has also become a major cause of concern. Garbage is not lifted for days causing foul smell. The situation is no different in the residential areas of the town.

There are a total of 33 wards in the Khanna municipal council, where residents claim that neither fogging has been done, nor oil has been poured in the accumulated stagnant water.

Bhupinder Khurmi, owner of a jewellery shop at Khanna, said whenever it rains, water accumulates in different parts of the city, including residential areas and remains stagnant for several days.

"The officials of the council should hold regular surveys in all parts of the town. During monsoon season, when dengue and malaria are a common disease, the attitude of officials of the council is unwarranted," Khurmi added.

Agitated residents also stated that the council was playing with their lives. Mahesh Kumar, who works in a private company, said if any person contracts any waterborne disease, the council should be held responsible and officials concerned should be punished.

"The council has an approved budget from the state government and had to spend the money for welfare of residents. If they are not holding fogging in different areas, this means that the money is not being utilised properly," said Kumar.

Meanwhile, executive officer of the Khanna municipal council Charanjit Singh said as the ground in front of its office was a property of the army, nothing could be done at the place. "I will look into the matter and do the needful in this regard as soon as possible," stated Singh.

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