Bathinda, June 9
The Municipal Corporation, Bathinda (MCB), has branded the hand pumps in the city as unusable claiming that the water drawn from them is unfit for human consumption. Interestingly, it did not get the quality of water tested before making the declaration.

A defunct hand pump, which has been branded as unusable by the Municipal Corporation in Bathinda. A Tribune Photograph

Of the total 800 hand pumps in the city, 666 have been pasted with stickers that read 'the water drawn from this hand pump is unfit for human consumption'. Interestingly, such stickers have been pasted even on those hand pumps, which have been lying defunct for the past couple of years. Such hand pumps are in the areas of Gandhi Gali, Arya Samaj Chowk, Purana Thana road, Vidya Mandir Wali Gali behind Kikkar Bazaar, Purana Thana Chowk, Pujjan Wala Mohalla, Mati Dass Nagar and Pratap Nagar.

The fact came to the fore when a local NGO, Naujawan Welfare Society, sought test reports of water samples on the basis of which such stickers were pasted on hand pumps.

The president of the NGO, Sonu Maheshwari, said in the information provided under the RTI, the MCB had accepted that water drawn from these hand pumps was not tested before branding them unusable.

“It was a startling revelation as the MCB took no time in declaring the water drawn from hand pumps as unfit for human consumption. If such was the case, these hand pumps should have been sealed. Though such water was not bad for other household chores like washing clothes, people could end up using it for drinking or cooking purposes,” added Maheshwari.

He claimed that the "irresponsible" move of the MCB would benefit the companies selling RO systems and the local companies selling "purified" water.

The MCB started pasting these stickers at the onset of the year 2013. Within a couple of months, almost 666 hand pumps were declared unusable as far as water drawn from them was used for drinking or cooking purposes. However, nothing has been done to dissuade people from using it.

Meanwhile, assistant commissioner Kamal Kant Goyal said the government got the groundwater of Bathinda tested a number of times and found it unfit for human consumption. “We did not get samples of water drawn from each hand pump tested because the underground water has already been tested so many times,” he said.

Goyal said stickers were pasted on all the 800 hand pumps in the city. However, the figure does not match the information received under the RTI. He said some pranksters must have removed the stickers from some hand pumps. “Now, we plan to get the warning sign painted on the hand pumps. The work on the same will start soon,” he said, adding that the hand pumps were not sealed as they could be used to draw water for washing and other chores.

The district has as many as 1,942 people suffering from cancer-like symptoms in villages and around 1,546 in urban areas.

Fact file

• Of the total 800 hand pumps in the city, 666 have been pasted with stickers that read 'the water drawn from this hand pump is unfit for human consumption'.
• Interestingly, such stickers have been pasted even on those hand pumps, which have been lying defunct for the past couple of years. Such hand pumps are in the areas of Gandhi Gali, Arya Samaj Chowk, Purana Thana road, Vidya Mandir Wali Gali behind Kikkar Bazaar, Purana Thana Chowk, Pujjan Wala Mohalla, Mati Dass Nagar and Pratap Nagar.

Bathinda, June 9
The number of youngsters complaining of hearing problems is rising, said audiologist Dr Reddy Sivaprasad, who is the head of a medical centre of the Bloom Senso Hearing, which provides customised hearing aids.

Dr Reddy said in the past two to three years, the number of young patients pouring in with hearing problems have increased. “People do not realise that constant use of a hands-free device to attend mobile phone calls or listen to music is affecting their sense of hearing,” he said.

Dr Reddy added that any sound above 85 decibels was harmful to human ears and could lead to severe impairment over a period of three months only. “Sadly enough, the devices used for listening to music or talking do not have specified sound regulations. Either the user has to be alert enough not to hear above 85 decibels or the companies should incorporate some software that does not emit sound beyond this limit,” he said.

Youngsters, who frequently visit places where loud music is played such as pubs and discothèques, experience a constant ringing in ears or some bothersome sound known as tinnitus. “This hints at the onset of a hearing problem. Those experiencing it should immediately see a doctor,” he said, advising people not to take the problem lightly.

Talking about the incidence of hearing impairment in the country, he said as per the National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO), 17 of the 1,000 persons were suffering from some kind of hearing problem and 20 to 30 per cent of them had to use a hearing aid.

He added that besides youth hooked to hearing loud music and people above 60 years of age, pregnant women were prone to hearing impairment as pregnancy causes ear bones to grow stiff.

Dr Reddy said the need of the hour was to create awareness among people about the importance of consulting a qualified doctor instead of quacks.

“Those selling hearing aids are not qualified medicos but dealers of various companies. Emphasis should be laid on taking services of doctors,” he cautioned.

Any kind of infection, sudden sound and genetic problems can harm a person's auditory sense.

Traffic police personnel and workers of heavy industry are more prone to hearing impairment.

Bathinda, June 9
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the area sales officer of the Indane and the Ajit Gas Agency, Rampura, to pay Rs 3,000 as compensation and to restore the LPG connection of a consumer.

The Forum president Vikramjit Kaur Soni and members Amarjeet Paul and Sukhwinder Kaur pronounced the judgment after hearing the arguments of both the parties.

The complainant's counsel, Shahbharat Sidhu, said Jaipal, a resident of Janta Colony, Rampura, had lodged a complaint in the Forum under Section 12 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, after his LPG connection was cut by the gas agency without providing any satisfactory reasons on October 29.

Jaipal was subscriber to Indane, the LPG brand of the Indian Oil Corporation.

In its reply, the Ajit Gas Agency officials claimed that during a physical verification, it was found that the complainant had held three multiple gas connections.

The complainant alleged that his wife Pushpa was forced to use wood as fuel for cooking that made her a patient of asthma and the family had to spend over Rs 2 lakh over her treatment.

The complainant said the agency officials had a false impression that he was living with his family, including parents and two brothers, but in fact, he was living separately.

In its reply, the opposite parties pleaded it was found that three gas connections were already being used at the same address. The complainant was asked to clear his position within 15 days, but he failed to respond, the opposite parties said. The physical verification done by officials of the gas agency revealed that there were two kitchens at the address of the complainant. It was found that three gas connections were in the name of Sham Lal, Sandeep Kumar and third in the name of the complainant. The latter two are sons of Sham Lal. Only two gas connections were shown during the verification and the complainant concealed the third connection.

Before accepting the complaint with Rs 3,000 as cost and compensation, the Forum observed that as per the facts, circumstances and evidences placed on record, it was proved that the complainant had a separate dwelling unit. He had his own kitchen and ration card, and was holding a separate gas connection, which has been disconnected by the Ajit Gas Agency and area sales officer of the Indane.

Bathinda, June 9
The Health Department has reverted the transfer orders of four doctors in the district.

Orthopaedist Dr Dheeraj, who was transferred to Muktsar, will now stay back. Similarly, Dr Ramandeep Goyal, who was transferred to Nathana, will continue serving at the Dhobiana urban health care center. Dr Ashish Kansal, who was transferred from Talwandi Sabo to Ferozepur, will continue working at Talwandi while chest and TB specialist Dr Jastej Singh, who was transferred to Badal village, will serve at the Civil Hospital, Bathinda.

Bathinda, June 9
The Municipal Corporation Bathinda (MCB) has issued fogging schedule to control vector borne disease like dengue and malaria.

In a press statement issued here today, assistant municipal commissioner Kamal Kant Goyal stated that fogging will start at 5:30 pm and if the machines fail to work properly, the area left out will be covered on Sunday or at the end of the schedule.

On June 10, areas like Power House Road-- left side from street number 6, right side of Ajit Road, Guru Arjan Dev Nagar and Shiv Mandir lane, falling under ward number 8, will be covered.

Similarly, on June 11, Bhagu Road and the nearby streets of Civil Lines, Shant Nagar and the right side of Dhobiana Basti, besides Police Lines (ward number 10 and 14) will be covered.

On June 12, areas like Pujjan Wala Mohalla, right side of PRTC road, Kalia street, Ayurvedic Hospital road, Government Rajindra College to grain market right side and Purana Thana road to Pujjanwala Mohalla area (covering ward number 23, 24 and 25) will be covered.

On June 13, the areas to the right side of Power House Road, Civil Station, Mini-secretariat and district courts, new bus stand, PRTC workshop (ward number 14 and 23) and near the deputy commissioner's residence will be covered.

On June 14, areas like Pujjan Wala Mohalla, left side of PRTC road, from GT Road towards fire brigade on Mall Road till Pujan Wala Mohalla area (ward number 22, 23 and 36) will be covered.

Also on June 15, areas like Sanjay Nagar, Awa Basti, Kala Singh Sidhu Colony and 80 feet road (ward number 34 and 35) will be fogged.

Bathinda, June 9
The FM station of All India Radio (AIR), Bathinda, would be broadcasting a series of live phone-in programmes titled Bathinda Shehar Da Vikas Ate Chunnotian (development of Bathinda city and the challenges).

In a press statement issued here today, station director Rajeev K Arora stated that in this series of programmes, the local MLA, mayor, deputy mayor and municipal councillors, the deputy commissioner, Bathinda, and prominent people of the area would be invited to the radio station, to express their views on the subject.

Since these programmes would be broadcast live, the listeners would be free to ask questions and join the discussion by calling at the studio phone number 0164-2240331.

The first episode of the series would be broadcast on June 10, in which MLA, Bathinda Urban, Sarup Chand Singla, would be a guest in the studio. The listeners can tune into FM band 101.1 MHz to listen to the programme.

Bathinda, June 9
As many as 11,448 candidates appeared for the Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET) held in the district today.

District Education Officer Harkanwaljit Kaur, who was the in-charge of the flying squad in Bathinda district, said that 3,119 candidates were enrolled for the morning session and out of these, 2,958 appeared. Similarly, in the evening session, 8,759 candidates were enrolled while 8,490 were present.

The Bathinda city had 25 examination centres, Rampura and Talwandi Sabo had four examination centres each. Three nodal officers were appointed at the tehsil level. In the city, the traffic came to a halt due to examination and total chaos prevailed.

Bathinda, June 9
Five members of a family have been booked by the Civil Lines police after a girl, residing in Ganesha Basti, eloped.

In a complaint to the police, Veena Rani alleged that her 20-year-old daughter eloped after she was instigated by five members of a family.

Bathinda, June 9
MLA from Bathinda Urban Sarup Chand Singla and Mayor Baljit Singh Birbehman today inaugurated the Bloom Senso Hearing Centre in Model Town phase I market.

The centre will provide customised hearing aids to the people suffering from hearing impairment, which affects their quality of life.

Expert doctors will check the patients and give hearing aids that suit their needs.

The doctors at the centres said that installing hearing aid took into account many factors such as the blood pressure, body's resistance power, diabetes and other medical conditions.

Complimentary hearing check-ups will be conducted till July 10.