The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

HEALTH

Tangy chaat can be dangerous
Monica Sharma

Tribune Impact

Soon after the Chandigarh Tribune carried a story on how the efforts of the UT Health Department to make the city secure against cholera were being mocked at by the vendors openly selling banned products, raids were carried out by the authorities.

Acting on the basis of information contained in the news report, the officers reached Sector 19 and other areas mentioned in the story and seized crates of sweet aerated drinks in bottles sealed with marbles. They also initiated action against sellers of prohibited brands of flavoured milk.

Chandigarh, August 26
Concerned over resurfacing of cholera and other water-borne diseases in the city, the UT Health Department has asked the residents, particularly the ones residing in the colonies and adjoining areas, to take preventive measures.

In instructions issued to the city residents, the health authorities have asked them not to consume golgappas and other food articles exposed to dust and flies.

“A majority of the golgappa and chat vendors are putting up in the slums and colonies,” says Senior Food Inspector M.K. Sharma. “Therefore, the chances of contaminated water being used by the vendors are very high”.

He adds: “No wonder, strict instructions have been issued to the Food Inspectors to drain the water being carried by the vendors in earthen pots, and even in steel utensils”.

Golgappas are, however, not the only forbidden food stuff. The health department has also asked the residents against savouring fruit chat and other articles exposed to flies and dust as flies spread cholera and other diseases, says Mr Sharma.

In case you feel like having something tangy, go in for tikkis instead, but without chatni, please. “The chances of acquiring the disease through tikki are less for the simple reason that it is fried at a very high temperature.”

As far as possible, the residents should buy stuff nicely packed and sealed. “Even if you wish to have lassi, go in for the one being sold in tetra packs,” says another official in the health department. “But before consuming even these items, be sure that the pack is neither puffed, nor leaking. Also check the date of expiry.”

This is not all. The residents should also boil the water before they drink it. “It is a simple and an economical way of ensuring against the spread of water-borne diseases,” the official asserts.

You should also avoid eating food without heating it. “Cooked vegetables in the refrigerators are fine but be sure that you heat the dishes properly before serving them,” the official insists.

The parents should also make sure that their little ones do not savour unknown “banned” brands of ice-creams, besides chole kulchas being sold outside the schools. “It is for their safety,” the officer asserts.

‘Make daily report of cholera cases’
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 26
A comprehensive daily report on status of cholera patients, if any, would be send to top officials as part of a monitoring process headed by the Director Health Services (DHS).

The UT Administrator asked the DHS to give details and also issue a daily bulletin to all mediapersons to curb any wrong information.

The General had called the Municipal Commissioner, Mr M.P. Singh, the MC Chief Engineer, Mr V.K. Bhardwaj and the DHS, Dr Rameshwar Chander, this morning after reports in media about spread of cholera and deaths due to suspected typhoid.

MC officials were asked to check all roadside ‘rehris’ selling eatables as they could be using water which was not potable. Most of the ‘rehriwallas’, selling ‘golgappas’ and other such eatables, lived in slums where the disease was breaking out.

The blocked sewerage system must also be opened up to curb any infection originating from the place, the General is learnt to have told the officials. The Commissioner would set a deadline and to correct the underground sewerage system.

As part of the monitoring process, the DHS would coordinate with the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) authorities.

Cases of suspected cholera have led to panic among city residents.

SPORTS

Gurkirat helps YPS beat St John’s
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, August 26
A hurricane knock of 68 runs by Gurkirat Singh of Yadavindra Public School, SAS Nagar, helped his team get the better of St John’s High School, Sector 26, by a margin of just 2 runs in the cricket match for the St Kabir trophy in the below 12 section played at Cricket Stadium, Sector 16, today. In another match, St Stephen’s School, Sector 45, defeated Nav Bal Niketan by a margin of 102 runs.

Earlier in the YPS-St John’s tie, the former won the toss and chose to bat first. After losing two quick wickets, it were Gurkirat and Kirat who managed a score of 132 runs for the loss of six wickets in 25 overs. Chasing the target, St John’s School could score 130 runs for the loss of six wickets in the stipulated overs.

Brief scores: YPS: 132 runs for two (Gurkirat 68, Kirat 28, Vishal 2 for 20) St John’s: 130 runs for six (Vikram 32, Aayush Raj 25, Himanshu 21, Taranvir 2 for 21).

Brief scores: St Stephen’s XI: 127 runs for seven (Gaurav Puri 24, Ravel Singh 22, Karan 21, Naresh 2 for19), Nav Bal Niketan CC :25 runs all out (Ekram six for eight, Sahib 2 for five).

Wrestling meet: In the UT Inter-school Wrestling Meet played here on Monday, grapplers of Sanjay Public school, Sector 44, gave a scintillating show. As many as four wrestlers of the school, in the below-19 section, won a gold medal each while three got bronze medals in different weight categories. In the below-17 section, Sanjit Kumar won gold medal, while Kanwal Baljeet Singh clinched gold medal in the below-14 section.

Football championship: The Chandigarh Junior Boys Football Championship for the Mahatma Hans Raj DAV Trophy will begin at Football Stadium, Sector 17, on Tuesday. Mr Ravinder Talwar, President of the Chandigarh Football Association, said the matches would start daily at 1 pm. Three matches would be played on the first day. The participating teams had been instructed to bring players list duly verified by the principals concerned along with the Identity cards, said Mr Talwar.

Shooting fraternity elated over Anjali’s feat
Arvind Katyal

Anjali Ved Pathak Bhagwat Chandigarh, August 26
The winning of ‘Champions of Champions’ award and a silver medal in the World Cup shooting events, which concluded on August 24 in Munich (Germany), by Indian woman air rifle shooter, Anjali Vedpathak Bhagwat, has won accolades from those connected with the sport.

Anjali had qualified for the event on the basis of her superb performance in the World Cup qualifying meets held in Atlanta early this year, where she had secured a silver medal. Anjali had shot 399/400 for the third time this year, including in the Munich championships where top eight women shooters of the world took part.

The first to react on her magnificent performance was international shooter from city, Sabeeha Dhillon. She said the moment she came to know about Anjali’s feat she immediately sent her a congratulating message. She even phoned many of her shooter colleagues, as this was a big achievement by an Indian. Sabeeha, who had shot with Anjali many times during camps and tournaments, said the silver medal in the World Cup was equivalent to an Olympic medal as all top shooters, including from Russia, China and Korea, were in the fray. Sabeeha said in the forthcoming Asian Games at Busan also she expected a medal, may be a gold, for her mentor Angali.

Col Jagir Singh Dhillon, a former International shooter and now a coach of Abhinav Bindra, said he had been getting good news about shooting for the past three days. First it was Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award for Abhinav and now the grand achievement of winning silver medal by Anjali. Dhillon, who has produced many shooters of repute, said after the thumping success of Indian shooters in the just concluded Commonwealth Games, there would be a sea change in the impression of the shooters in the country.

“Anjali pulled ahead of two world-record holders in the Munich meet, like Gao Jing of China who had to feel satisfied with a bronze medal. Even Sun Hwa Seo of Korea, who had earlier won gold medal in the Sydney World Cup, finished ninth this time,” he said. On Anjali’s chances in the Busan Asian Games, Dhillon said the competition was tough, but the way Anjali had been performing till date, there was no denying the fact that now the top-ranked women shooters of China, Korea would get a really tough competition from an Indian.

Dalip Singh Chandel, the man associated with shooting in the city for the past more than a decade, said the sport was now on the upsurge. He said the Indian shooters were quite talented and the moment they were given the international exposure, the performance level went up. He said the splendid performances by Abhinav and Anjali were a real motivating factor for the younger generation. He wished a gold medal from Anjali in the Asian Games.

PUDA seeks architectural consultancy for its office
Our Correspondent

SAS Nagar, August 26
With the Municipal Council’s contest to design its new office complex in Sector 68 here failing to throw up suitable choice, the civic body has now invited architectural consultants for the project.

The council plans to construct a Rs 4-crore building on the 1.10 acre plot allotted by PUDA. Its officers have been housed in rented premises in Phase VII for years, with the council losing lakhs on rent.

The council has invited tenders on a lump-sum rate basis from reputed architects for consultancy for the proposed office complex.

The work will include landscaping, interior decoration, preparing of architectural and structural drawings, estimate and supervision of construction.

The eligibility conditions require that the firm or the architect must among other things have planned or designed at least four projects related to public buildings having a covered area of more than 40,000 sq ft., complete with public health and electrical installations, each of a minimum value of Rs 2 crore, during the past four years.

In January this year, the council had decided to organise a contest of architects for designing its new office building. Those who presented top three designs were to be awarded by the civic body.

On May 31, the council called the architects who had prepared the designs for the office complex. They made presentations of their designs before the selection committee comprising the Chief Town Planner, Department of Local Government, Punjab, the executive officer and the municipal engineer. The selection committee discussed the presentations and unanimously disapproved all the designs as none of these fulfilled the requirements of the new building. It was then decided that fresh tenders be invited for the office complex.