75 pc funds to civic bodies for dengue control released: Delhi

Seventy-five per cent of the funds to be given to municipal corporations this year to control vector-borne diseases have already been released, the Delhi government said today.
According to officials, the Delhi government has already transferred Rs 61.14 crore out of a total budget of Rs 81.40 crore which it is supposed to give to the three municipal corporations to fight dengue and other vector-borne diseases.
The officials, however, claimed that the payment was done by the Delhi government despite not getting fund utilisation certificates by civic agencies of previous years.
"We have released 75 per cent of fund which is Rs 61.14 crore and rest of the money will be transferred soon. We are sending timely payment to corporations but so far they have not given us any proof of utilization of this money. We are yet to get mandatory money utilisation certificate for amount allotted to them previous year," a senior officer said.

The corporations are responsible for sanitation and mosquito control measures in most parts of the city.
Municipal Corporations had earlier blamed the Delhi government for the outspread of dengue, claiming that it had failed to release funds.

Even Congress had accused the Delhi Government of holding back budgetary allocation of Rs 81.40 crore to the civic bodies for checking dengue and malaria.
Meanwhile, expressing anguish over lax attitude of government in dealing with rising cases of dengue, representatives of various mass organisations, civil society groups and health organisations today held a protest outside Delhi Secretariat and met Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain demanding that no dengue patient is denied hospital admission.

In order to reach maximum people of the city, the Delhi government has started making automated call asking them not to panic and keep their locality clean.
"We are making calls to the people of the city. We have recorded a voice message by Health Minister Satyendra Jain who is guiding on precautionary measures to remain safe from dengue attack. He has also requested people not to panic and to get admitted only after the consultation of a doctor," the senior official said.