The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	City lacks facility to dispose of bio-medical waste SP Sharma Tribune News Service Bathinda, December 15 While this town has emerged as a key destination for health services, it lacks infrastructure for scientific disposal of the bio-medical waste generated by the mushrooming hospitals and clinics. The hazardous waste is transported all the way to Ludhiana for its disposal. The cluster of government hospitals within the complex of the Civil Hospital is also without an incinerator and the hazardous medical waste is dumped in the open. The health institutions in the district are estimated to generate more than 40 tonne hazardous waste annually and a considerable quantity is disposed unscientifically. However, a proper survey has not so far been conducted either by the health authorities or the pollution control board to assess the quantity of bio-medical waste being generated here. Neither has a tab been kept whether the collected hazardous waste was being properly transported and destroyed by the private organisation, said a former president of the local chapter of Indian Medical Association. There are as many as 80 private hospitals and more than 30 clinics in the area. What is alarming is that the bio-medical waste was being allowed to get mixed with other solid waste of the town that is generally disposed in or near the drinking water sources. Senior Deputy Mayor Tarsem Goyal said it was leading to spread of disease in the town. Rag pickers while salvaging material from at the dumpsites of hospitals are exposed to the risk of injuries from contaminated needles or other sharp objects and contracting infectious diseases. Most of the government and private hospitals and clinics here have entered into a contract with a Ludhiana-based private organisation to transport bio-medical waste from here. Officials of the company, when contacted on phone, were reluctant to disclose the quantity of medical waste they pick up from here. A health department functionary said for the time being, there was no plan to install an incinerator on the Civil Hospital complex as a private contractor was doing the job. Besides the main hospital, the complex has a children hospital while a cancer hospital is under construction. Figures indicate that about 315 kg of infectious and about 4,500 litre of hazardous liquid waste is generated per month by the two government hospitals. The town also has a private medical college that generates bio-medical waste. The hazardous waste generated by the medical institutions consists of Human Anatomical Waste, including human tissues, organs, body parts, microbiology and biotechnology waste, discarded medicines, cytotoxic drugs and syringes and surgical blades. While municipal and industrial solid waste has received the attention of the authorities, there is lack of concern for special management of bio-medical waste that has a potential of causing serious infection among human beings.
	Protest held for unconditional release of former BKU chief Rajay Deep Tribune News Service Bathinda, December 15 Demanding an unconditional release of former state president of the Bharti Kisan Union (Krantikari) Surjit Singh Phul, activists of various farmer and employee unions staged a dharna outside the Mini-secretariat here today. The district officials had been on their toes to foil the bid of the agitators since Monday evening. Besides converting the Mini-secretariat area into a fortress, all roads leading to the city were cordoned off by setting up various check-posts. Even the DC’s residence was blocked by installing a huge chain of barricades. Still, the protesters assembled outside the Mini-secretariat with cops in large number laced with weapons, including tear gas shells and water cannons, surrounded them to prevent their movement. Surjit Singh was arrested on November 17 from the sub-divisional courts of Rampura Phul on the charges of spreading Naxalite movement in the state. He was further sent to the Joint Investigation Centre (JIC) at Amritsar. Activists of the Bharti Kisan Union (Krantikari), the Kirti Kisan Union, the Punjab Kisan Union, the Aurat Mukti Morcha and the Krantikari Pendu Majdoor Union expressed their resentment over the way the police arrested Surjit Singh, allegedly without even tendering an application in the courts. Addressing the gathering, the protesters castigated the ruling politicians for suppressing the voice of those who came forward to uphold people’s rights. They warned the state and the police of dire consequences if their move was suppressed. Before lifting their dharna, the protesters raised anti-government slogans, including the demand for an unconditional release of Surjit Singh. State president of Punjab Kisan Union Ruldu Singh Mansa, secretary of the BKU (Krantikari) Dalwinder Singh Sher Khan and secretary of the Krantikari Pendu Majdoor Union Malkit Singh were prominent speakers.
	Army move on identity cards in Cantt area irks residents Chander Parkash Tribune News Service Ferozepur, December 15 In a significant development, the local Army authorities have started the exercise to impose ‘undeclared military rule’ in the cantonment area, housing private buildings and state government offices, of this border town of Punjab despite stiff opposition by district administration. As per the ‘diktats’ issued by a senior functionary of the Army, all the civilians living in the private accommodations in the cantonment and those frequenting the area will have to get identify cards, to be issued by the Army authorities, for their entry from the same on the pretext of security of their vital installation. The last date for submission of applications by the civilians to get the identity cards expired today (December 15, 2009). Information gathered by TNS revealed that most of the residents, who were agitated over the diktats of the Army authorities, had not submitted the application forms to get identity cards. Deputy Commissioner KK Yadav had constituted a committee to sort out the matter.A section of residents, to whom TNS talked to, alleged that undeclared military rule would deny them a number of facilities which were available to them now. They would not be able to fetch medical aid in case of emergencies. Their relative would not be able to visit them even during the days of crises.They added that the Army authorities deny them free movement on the roads leading to their own dwellings and place of work located in the cantonment area. Meanwhile, Jaskiran Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner, has brought to the notice of Yadav that the Army authorities had started the process of issuing identity cards to the civilians by violating the resolution passed in the meeting of cantonment board held on November 20 instant and presided over by its president, a senior Army officer. In that meeting attended by members of cantonment board, civil and Army officials, a resolution was passed that a decision in connection with the issuance of identity cards to civilians living in the cantonment area would be taken only at a joint meeting to be held in future and to be attended by the DIG, SSP, Deputy Commissioner, Ferozepur and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the cantonment board, he added. Joginder Singh Jindu, vice-president, cantonment board, when contacted, said that members of board would meet the chief minister, Punjab and Union Defence Minister. They could also launch an agitation. He said that barriers and check points erected by the Army authorities on various roads in the cantonment area was encroachment of the road by the Army authorities and was against the law of the land. Amit Kumar, CEO, cantonment board, when contacted, while admitting the fact that problem of the civilians was genuine, refused to comment on the action of the Army authorities. No functionary of the Army could be reached for his comments.
	Best Citizen of India award for Dr Bassi Our Correspondent Abohar, December 15 Dr VK Bassi, former senior medical officer of the Nehru Memorial Civil Hospital here, has been selected for the ‘Best Citizen of India’ award by the International Publishing House, sources confirmed on Tuesday. Notably, Dr Bassi had been handpicked by the former health secretary TKA Nair (now OSD to the Prime Minister) as a member of the team that comprised ADC MP Singh (now secretary to Punjab governor) and DSP Arpit Shukla (now SP Special Cell) to restore the faith of the citizens, who had felt shell shocked over the March 7, 1990 terror attack here. Having done MBBS in 1964 from the Government Medical College, Patiala, Dr Bassi got MS degree from the PGI Chandigarh in 1968. During his posting at Ferozepur, Fazilka, Bathinda and Abohar as SMO, he was instrumental in organising more than 200 free eye operation camps in collaboration with various NGOs including Lions Club, Rotary Club, Bharat Vikas Parishad, Seva Bharti and some charitable trusts. He retired from Punjab Health Department service as civil surgeon-cum-deputy director in 1999 and settled at his hometown Hoshiarpur, the citation on his selection for the award said. Having attended several national and international conferences, Dr Bassi had got Rs 2 crore sanctioned for renovation of the Nehru Memorial Civil Hospital at Abohar.
	Abohar lad hopes to race to glory Selected for training camp for Commonwealth Games, 2010 Raj Sadosh Abohar, December 15 Harpreet Singh of village Dalmirkhera in this sub-division has been selected for the Indian athletes training camp for the Commonwealth Games, 2010. The news came during the function organised by the village panchayat today to honour him for winning bronze medal in the 18th Asian Athletics Championship held at Guang Zhou in China recently. Better known as ‘Happy’ in the village, he was awarded medal in 4x400 meter relay race and is the only sportsman from Punjab to bring laurels. The other two winners were girls. Happy was honoured by SDM Amit Dhaka as sarpanch Gurbanta Singh said the village is proud of its lad. Happy's coach Sarabjit Singh, former MLA Dr Ram Kumar Goyal and prominent badminton player Sandeep Rinwa were among those present. Later, Harpreet Singh spoke to The Tribune during an informal meeting at the residence of Sandeep Rinwa here before leaving for Jalandhar. Recalling that he had no love for sports during his school time at the Government High School at village Dalmirkhera, Harpreet said his father Darshan Singh Sidhu, an agriculturist, got him admitted to the Layalpur Khalsa College at Jalandhar for graduation in 2002 and requested coach Sarabjit Singh to involve him in sports. This is how his career in sports started. His first love has been 400 meter race. He stood third in the Punjab Athletic Meet in 2003. The year 2004 had been very lucky for him, as he set a record in the junior category during the national games held at Vijaywada in 2004, by finishing 400 meter race in 48.48 seconds. In the Indo-Pak athletic meet at Patiala, he improved his performance to 47.94 seconds and clinched gold in tough competition. During the same year, he won silver medal in the All India Inter-University Athletics Meet at Guntur in Andhra Pradesh. In 2006, he got third position in All India Senior Open Athletics at Chennai by taking 47.70 seconds to complete 400 meter race. He won silver in 4x4 relay race during the All India Inter-Police Athletics held at Bhopal in 2008 and was had third position in the open India selection meet for the Asian athletics. At present, serving the Border Security Force as sub-inspector, Harpreet, by finishing the 400 meter race in 46.86 seconds, has earned a place among select athletes like Milkha Singh, Makhan Singh, Paramjit, who had made it in less than 47 seconds, said coach Sarabjit Singh.