Delhi Govt asks civic bodies to check dengue, malaria

At a meeting, Health Minister A K Walia told top officials of the civic agencies that government will not hesitate to take punitive action against those found wanting in performing their duties.

The Minister also directed the builders to ensure that steps are taken to protect the construction workers from malaria and dengue as they are more prone to get affected.

Walia instructed builders to start anti-larvae operations to control spread of the diseases as maximum cases of malaria and dengue are being reported from the areas where construction activities are taking place.

He said mounds of rubble often leads to pools of stagnating water which are ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Three civic bodies -- North Delhi Municipality, South Delhi Municipality and East Delhi Municipality -- have reported

a total of 70 dengue cases this year. A total of 827 malaria cases have been reported so far by the civic bodies while 1,032 cases have been reported from neighbouring states.

The Minister directed the three municipalities to carry out fogging in all the areas, particularly in slum clusters and areas where construction activities are going on.

He also directed the civic bodies not to resort to under-reporting of malaria and dengue cases and issued instruction to all government and private hospitals to send complete report with addresses of the patients to the municipalities.

Walia emphasised the need for developing a more comprehensive and "dependable" reporting system with regard to dengue and malaria.

Officials said civic agencies have issued notices to nearly 68,000 households in the city for finding "positive breeding ground for mosquitoes" in their premises.

They said prosecution has been started in respect of 4,277 cases.