KURUKSHETRA | PEN OF DEMOCRACY NEWS DESK
Deputy Commissioner Vishram Kumar Meena has urged residents to remain vigilant during the rainy season to prevent diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and malaria, stressing that timely precautions and a clean environment can significantly reduce the risk of infection.
Meena said the rainy season often leads to waterlogging at various places, creating favourable conditions for mosquitoes to breed. Such stagnant water can become a major source of mosquito-borne diseases, making preventive measures at the household and community levels essential.
He appealed to residents to work collectively to keep their surroundings clean and prevent water from accumulating in and around their homes. According to the Deputy Commissioner, cleanliness is one of the most effective ways of reducing the risk of seasonal diseases, while negligence can allow infections to spread.
The administration makes arrangements for sanitation and disease prevention, but public participation remains equally important, he said. Residents should take responsibility for maintaining cleanliness in their neighbourhoods and should not allow stagnant water to remain unattended.
Meena particularly advised people to regularly clean water tanks and coolers. He said water stored in coolers and other containers should be emptied and cleaned at least once every week so that mosquitoes do not get an opportunity to breed.
The Deputy Commissioner also emphasised the importance of public awareness in preventing seasonal diseases. He said awareness campaigns can be highly effective when people understand the risks and adopt preventive practices in their daily lives.
He called upon residents to take precautions not only for their own health but also for the wellbeing of their families and neighbours. Collective awareness and timely action can help prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases and reduce pressure on the healthcare system.
Meena said the government and district administration remain committed to protecting the health and safety of citizens. However, preventive efforts can achieve better results only when residents also cooperate and remain alert.
He appealed to people to make cleanliness a regular habit rather than limiting sanitation efforts to the rainy season. Keeping water containers covered, removing stagnant water and maintaining clean surroundings can help reduce mosquito breeding sites.
The Deputy Commissioner urged citizens to immediately pay attention to places where rainwater collects and to take appropriate steps to remove such water. He said a small amount of accumulated water can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, making household vigilance particularly important.
He also stressed that people should remain aware of symptoms associated with seasonal illnesses and seek medical attention when necessary instead of ignoring health problems. Early attention to illness can help prevent complications.
Meena said prevention is a shared responsibility and called for active cooperation among residents, local bodies and government departments. A coordinated approach towards sanitation, awareness and personal protection, he said, can make the rainy season safer for everyone.
The administration’s appeal comes as mosquito-borne diseases remain a major seasonal concern during periods of frequent rainfall and water accumulation. Residents have been urged to remain particularly cautious around coolers, water storage containers, rooftops, drains and other places where stagnant water may collect.
The Deputy Commissioner reiterated that cleanliness, awareness and regular preventive action are the key safeguards against dengue, chikungunya and malaria during the rainy season.
UHBVN to hear consumer complaints over billing, meters and voltage issues on September 7, 14, 21 and 28
Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) has announced dates for the hearing of consumer complaints relating to electricity billing, tariffs, meter security, defective meters and voltage-related issues under the jurisdiction of the Panchkula Zone.
According to a UHBVN spokesperson, the corporation is committed to providing consumers with reliable electricity supply, stable voltage and uninterrupted power, while working towards improving overall consumer satisfaction and resolving complaints promptly.
The Zonal Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum will hear cases involving financial disputes of more than ₹1 lakh and up to ₹3 lakh, in accordance with Regulation 2.8.2.
Consumers from Kurukshetra, Ambala, Panchkula, Kaithal and Yamunanagar districts falling under the Panchkula Zone will be able to have their eligible complaints heard by the forum on September 7, 14, 21 and 28.
The hearings will address complaints concerning incorrect or disputed electricity bills, electricity tariff-related matters, meter security, defective meters and voltage-related problems. Consumers facing such issues have been advised to make use of the forum mechanism for resolution of their grievances.
However, the spokesperson clarified that certain categories of cases will not be considered by the forum during these hearings. These include matters related to electricity theft, misuse of electricity and fatal or non-fatal electrical accidents.
The corporation has also specified certain requirements that consumers must fulfil before submitting a financial dispute to the forum. Before a complaint relating to a financial dispute can be entertained, the consumer will be required to deposit an amount for each month equivalent to the claimed amount or the electricity charges payable by the consumer, whichever is lower, calculated on the basis of the average electricity charges paid by the consumer during the preceding six months.
The requirement is intended to ensure that the prescribed procedure is followed before a financial dispute is taken up by the consumer grievance forum.
The consumer will also be required to certify that the matter is not already pending before a court, authority or any other forum. Cases that are already under consideration before a court or another forum will not be taken up during these hearings.
UHBVN has appealed to consumers from the five districts covered by the Panchkula Zone to attend the scheduled proceedings if they have eligible electricity-related grievances.
The proceedings will be held at the UHBVN headquarters, Vidyut Sadan, Industrial Plot No. 3 and 4, Sector 14, Panchkula. The hearings will take place from 11.30 am to 1.30 pm on each of the four scheduled dates.
The corporation said the grievance redressal mechanism is part of its broader efforts to improve consumer services and resolve electricity-related problems through an institutional process.
Consumers have been advised to ensure that their complaints fall within the jurisdiction and scope of the forum before attending the proceedings. They should also fulfil the prescribed requirements relating to financial disputes and provide the necessary supporting information.
The spokesperson said the corporation continues to undertake various programmes aimed at addressing consumer concerns and improving service delivery. The grievance forum provides consumers with an avenue to raise eligible disputes concerning billing, tariffs, meters and voltage-related matters.
The scheduled hearings are expected to provide consumers from Kurukshetra, Ambala, Panchkula, Kaithal and Yamunanagar with an opportunity to present their eligible grievances before the designated forum.
UHBVN has encouraged consumers facing such problems to participate in the proceedings on the specified dates and seek resolution through the prescribed grievance redressal mechanism.
POD/DESK
