PIL on dengue filed in Calcutta HC

A PIL seeking the appointment of a medical commission to suggest preventive measures for dengue in West Bengal and monetary compensation to the heirs of those who died of the disease was filed before the Calcutta High Court today.
The petitioner's counsel, Rabishankar Chatterjee, said the PIL was likely to come up for hearing tomorrow before the bench of Acting Chief Justice Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya.
Claiming that the vector-borne disease had nearly reached "epidemic proportions" in some parts of the state, including Kolkata, the petitioner prayed for a direction to the authorities concerned to formulate strategies for a proper implementation of the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP).

The petitioner alleged that the state authorities were "trying to hide the number of deaths taking place in the state".
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had, on October 30, said 13 dengue deaths were reported from the state-run hospitals, while private hospitals reported 27 dengue deaths, but were yet to be confirmed by tests.
The petitioner also prayed that penal measures be taken against those violating the preventive measures, particularly those littering the environment.
He prayed for a direction to the state government to provide an adequate compensation to the legal heirs of those who had died of the disease.
"The authorities are negligent in implementing vital recommendations of the NVBDCP, including year-round surveillance, vector-control measures and a mid-term action plan," the petition said, claiming that this negligence was leading to a "gross escalation of morbidity and mortality.