Waiting for disaster
The town of Panipat faces a severe health and ecological problem. The health effects of the seepage of untreated effluents into the groundwater is a major source of concern for the people. According to data of the Civil Hospital, during the last three years gastrointestinal diseases like diarrhoea and vomiting have shown an increase of around 300 per cent between April 1997 and April 1999 in Panipat.
Skin diseases have shown an increase of more than 800 per cent and upper respiratory infections have shown a rise of more than 300 per cent during the period. "All these diseases are associated with polluted groundwater,' says H S Randhawa, medical superintendent, Civil Hospital, Panipat. "Diseases like Tuberculosis, bronchial infections and gastrointestinal and skin problems like dermatitis, allergies and infections have a higher incidence among the labourers who work in the factories,' he adds.
"This is a case of poisoning of an entire town,' says Randhawa. The situation becomes even more dangerous as the administration has no specific plans to address the problem, he adds.
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