some media projecting artificial scarcity of hospital beds

"Authorities of two or three private hospitals in Salt Lake have informed me that some people went there and got computer printouts of 'no vacancy' and took pictures to make news out of it," Banerjee told reporters at Writers' Buildings.

She said that she would not name the hospitals because of their safety.

Banerjee said that responding to appeals, private hospitals have decided to provide discounts in medical bills for dengue-affected patients.

She also said that state government has set up a task force to deal with the dengue menace.

She said she has asked the health department and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation to immediately advertise in newspapers and television listing precautionary measures citizens should take.

"There is need to regularly clear accumulated water in refrigerators, air-conditioners, washing machines and flower-pots," she said.

"In Mumbai they have imposed fines," she said, adding that authorities here however would not resort to it.

The chief minister said that she was reading a World Health Organisation report to increase her knowledge about the disease.

"I learnt that in 148 countries there is spurt in dengue cases occasionally including in Asian countries like India, Bangladesh and Indonesia."