Dengue outbreak: Rs.60 crore released to Delhi's civic bodies

The Delhi High Court on Thursday was informed by the city government that Rs.60 crore has been released to the three municipal corporations for sanitation programmes to deal with the dengue outbreak.

Of the total budget allocation of Rs.81.52 crore towards malaria and dengue control programmes, approximately Rs.60 crore has been released by the Delhi government, a division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath was informed.

The first installment of grant-in-aid amounting to 25 percent of the total funds was allocated to the three corporations on September 17, said Delhi government counsel Rahul Mehra.

The second installment of 50 percent was released on September 22, he said.

The bench also asked the civic agencies to file comprehensive affidavits on steps taken by them on the issue by September 29, the next date of hearing.

The court was hearing a bunch of petitions filed to control dengue.

A plea filed by Congress leader Ajay Maken accused the Aam Aadmi Party government and municipal corporations of not being vigilant and responsible to control dengue.

Maken said the Delhi government failed to initiate awareness campaigns and an outbreak alarm was raised only after dengue fatalities were reported, which is otherwise not a life-threatening disease.

It said the Delhi government allocated Rs.81.52 crore towards malaria and dengue control programmes. However, it did not bother to release the funds to the municipal corporations.

Citing lack of funds as an alibi for their gross failure in controlling dengue outbreak, these agencies rendered the general public completely helpless, the petition said.