Checks conducted at 3,203 premises so far

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 25

To check the spread of vector-borne diseases in the district, various anti-larvae teams of the Health Department have been carrying out extensive drives since June 5 under mission ‘Tandarust Punjab’ and checking desert coolers, water tanks, containers and other mosquitoes breeding sites. 

The teams have visited nearly 3,203 premises so far, including houses, government offices and quarters and inspected 4,974 desert coolers and other containers.

A spokesperson said the teams have also detected larvae in 35 places, where the team members drained the water from all places to ensure that it does not spread further. So far, 203 awareness camps have also been organised in the district, where the staff raised awareness. 

They were told to cover all water storage containers, besides old tyres, broken pots, crockery should be removed immediately.

371 samples collected, 20 fail quality test

Ludhiana: To ensure quality seeds, fertilisers and pesticides for farmers, the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department has been conducting massive checks at shops selling seeds, pesticides, and fertilisers since June 5 under mission ‘Tandarust Punjab’.  Chief Agriculture Officer (CAO) Baldev Singh said the teams were led by joint director (Agriculture Inputs) Jagtar Singh Brar and have so far collected 61 samples of fertilisers, 203 seed and 107 pesticide samples in the drive. Singh said as per the preliminary reports, three samples of fertilisers, 13 of pesticides and 4 of seeds have failed the purity test. He said the department had issued show-cause notices to the dealers concerned and manufacturers and departmental action was also being taken against them. The CAO also sought help from farmers in the drive to make it a huge success. He asked all dealers of fertilisers, seeds and pesticides to give the original copy of bills to farmers. — TNS