Diarrhoea tightens grip in Tricity, top shots hold no one to account

MOHALI: Diarrhoea outbreaks have become an annual affair in the Tricity, an indication of the indifference to civic matters that becomes all the more starker with the local authorities not fixing responsibility for the contamination of drinking water.
The water-borne disease has struck thrice this year — once in Panchkula and twice in Mohali In July, diarrhoea coupled with cholera left Abheypur village in Panchkula reeling. A nine-year-old boy had died and several taken ill. Panchkula civil surgeon Dr Mukta Kumar said a total of 530 cases had been reported. A month later, no one has been held accountable.
“I have initiated the matter of fixing responsibility and directed Huda administrator as drinking water is under its domain. The Huda had issued notices to residents but in the meantime, the administrator got transferred. They might still be in the process to complete the hearings. I will once again talk to the new administrator to finally fix responsibility,” said Panchkula deputy commissioner Vinay Partap Singh. The story is the same for Mohali.
Around 80 to 90 people had taken ill at Badala village in Kharar in June. Last year, a few residents of Bhabat village had complained of vomiting and loose motions. Now, diarrhoea has claimed two lives and left 250 ill in Baltana, Zirakpur, and Derabassi.
“This time we will definitely fix the responsibility. As the source of contamination has been detected, we will identify the person responsible for the negligence. Action will be taken,” said Mohali deputy commissioner Girish Dayalan said, The public health department of Huda and the health wing of Zirakpur municipal council are responsible for distribution and maintenance of drinking water pipelines. It is the job of field employees of the two departments to detect faults and plug them on time. But residents believe they hardly perform their duties. And, with the inaction and wait-and-watch policy adopted by top officials hardly serving as any deterrent, it is quite likely that it is just a matter of time when another diarrhoea outbreak grips a locality.