TRAFFIC COPS’ HEALTH AFFECTED DUE TO CONSTANT EXPOSURE TO HEAT AND DUST

MARCEL: Continuous exposure to heat and dust pollution is taking a toll on the health of the traffic police in Ponda taluka.  The overburdened traffic cell in Ponda often receives complaints from the traffic policemen of health-related problems, probably due to exposure to heat and dust pollution.

Ponda Traffic Cell In-charge Police Inspector Salim Shaik said the Ponda Traffic Cell has about 50 policemen, of which 25 are posted to regulate traffic in the mining belt of Usgao.  Though each traffic policeman is posted in the mining belt on alternate days, but according to Shaik, the environment has badly affected its staff’s health.  “With lesser number of staff available, there is an increased risk of illness as often the same traffic policemen have to do duty in a dusty environment. Policemen are increasingly developing ailments due to exposure to heat and dust pollution,” said Shaik.

“This has adversely affected attendance as most of the times traffic personnel are on sick leave,” added Shaik.  “Traffic policemen posted in Usgao from 6 am to 7 pm are exposed to dust pollution caused due to mining trucks. The road shoulders which were widened a month ago also cause dust pollution,” he said.

“Road shoulders were widened temporarily to park trucks during school hours and were also helpful in easing traffic congestion,” he added.

PI Shaik feels that if the State government increases existing strength of Ponda traffic cell, then the problem could be reduced to a certain extent.  “Our traffic personnel are sometimes reluctant to do duty in the mining region due to health-related issues. However, the issue can be tackled provided we have enough of traffic personnel,” said Shaik.

“Since we have lesser number of staff, the same staff has to be deployed in the region. We face problems due to shortage of staff, but somehow we are managing it,” he said.

“However, if the government sanctions us more staff, then it would help us a lot. Every day there is overload on the already short staffed Ponda traffic cell and the conditions worsen when there are Bandobast or road diversions,” added PI Shaik.