Oppn corners SDMC over under-reporting

NEW DELHI: The BJP-ruled South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) faced criticism from the Opposition at the standing committee meet on Monday for allegedly underreporting the dengue and chikungunya cases in city.

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Referring to the Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) report on dengue in Delhi, leader of opposition Farhad Suri said the data released by SDMC is unacceptable. The CAG report is yet to be submitted to Delhi Assembly.

“As per the report, in 2015, Delhi’s hospitals reported 409 deaths due to dengue, while the ‘dengue death review committee (consisting of doctors from municipal corporation and the Delhi government) confirmed only 60 deaths,” said Suri.

Out of 60 deaths in 2015, 46 were reported from Delhi and 14 from other states.

According to him, the figures also raised a question mark over the competence of the state’s death review committee considering the deaths were reported from the hospitals in Delhi only.

In 2014 also, 50 dengue deaths were reported from hospitals while SDMC had confirmed only three deaths, according to report. Opposition demanded immediate action against the defaulters.

Senior SDMC official said the cases are reported as per the guidelines set by Centre. “The panel counts the cases found positive with Elisa test,” he said.

Meanwhile, Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain said strict action would be taken against those who have underreported dengue cases from 2013-15.

“Strict action should be taken against those who have hidden facts,” he said.

(With agency inputs)