Due to a sharp increase in dengue cases, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the civic and administrative body of Bengaluru city, is considering imposing fines on property owners who neglect cleanliness on their premises. Offenders could face an initial fine of ₹50 for their first offense, with an additional daily penalty of ₹15 thereafter, The Times of India reported.
Under the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike Prevention and Control of Mosquito Breeding and Eradication of Malaria and Other Mosquito-Borne Disease Bylaw-1997, BBMP officials are empowered to enter any property, including buildings, for inspection and to enforce measures against mosquito breeding.
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Property owners will initially receive instructions to eliminate stagnant water; failure to comply may result in a ₹50 fine for breaching the bylaw, followed by ₹15 per day for each subsequent violation upon receiving a notice, the report stated.
Zonal-level officials have been directed to enforce these fines uniformly across residential and commercial properties. Concurrently, the BBMP has initiated a city-wide survey covering over 24 lakh houses to detect dengue cases and eradicate mosquito larvae, it added.
Public education campaigns emphasize preventative actions such as clearing stagnant water and maintaining hygienic water storage practices. Additionally, the BBMP is targeting public areas like park fountains and construction sites, holding developers accountable for maintaining cleanliness under the threat of penalties.
{{/usCountry}}Public education campaigns emphasize preventative actions such as clearing stagnant water and maintaining hygienic water storage practices. Additionally, the BBMP is targeting public areas like park fountains and construction sites, holding developers accountable for maintaining cleanliness under the threat of penalties.
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Meanwhile, Karnataka's Health Minister, Dinesh Gundu Rao, instructed all district deputy commissioners to initiate a comprehensive door-to-door campaign aimed at raising awareness about dengue across the state, news agency PTI reported. During a virtual meeting with the DCs, CEOs of Zilla Panchayats, and senior officials, Rao emphasized the importance of involving district health officers, health workers, ASHA, and Anganwadi workers in eradicating dengue larvae.
The Minister's directives also focused on preventing any dengue-related fatalities in Karnataka. He also urged officials to ensure that hospitals and diagnostic centres do not overcharge for dengue tests and other vector-borne disease treatments.