HC asks civic bodies to file affidavits on disease prevention

The Bombay High Court today directed all civic bodies in Maharashtra to file separate affidavits by November 22 on the steps they have taken to prevent the spread of dengue, malaria and chikungunya in their respective areas.
A division bench headed by Justice V M Kanade also asked the municipal bodies to disclose in the affidavit the number of people who lost their lives due to these diseases in the last two years.
The bench was hearing a petition filed by activist Vishnu Gawli alleging that the civic bodies were not taking any step to control these diseases and they were also not keeping their areas clean.

The judges also told the civic bodies and the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) to form separate committees in their respective areas to take initiative in preventing these diseases.
The bench also asked the civic bodies to launch a special drive on a daily basis for cleaning and fumigating their respective areas.
The judges asked the petitioner to give suggestions on how to control these diseases based on his experiences and observations during the last two years.
The high court had earlier asked the Maharashtra government and civic bodies to treat this like an "epidemic-like situation" and tackle the spread of diseases like malaria, dengue and chikungunya.

The matter has been posted for hearing on November 22.