‘10 dengue cases in a month, BMC negligent’

Residents have said that the local Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) ward officer and corporators have ignored their complaints about areas with stagnant water that have been breeding sites for mosquitoes that cause dengue.

In the past one month, around ten cases of dengue have been reported in the housing colonies located opposite Shri Harilal Bhagwati Municipal Hospital in Borivli (West).

Dhananjay Junnarkar showing the breeding spot of mosquitoes. (HT PHOTO)

Residents have said that the local Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) ward officer and corporators have ignored their complaints about areas with stagnant water that have been breeding sites for mosquitoes that cause dengue.

Alpa Shah, resident, Hare Krishna compound, said she spent over ₹50,000 for her daughter and husband’s dengue treatment in the past 20 days.

Swapnil Bangar, resident, Mathura Vihar building, said he was admitted in a nearby hospital for over a week due to dengue.

Dr Padmaja Keskar, executive health officer, BMC, said that she isn’t aware about the issue but she will get in touch with the local ward officials and get it resolved.

Dr Kashyap Thakar who runs a clinic in the building, said, “I am currently treating three patients on Out Patient Department (OPD) basis, referred three patients to Karuna Hospital and four to Lotus Hospital in the past one month.”

Thakar said the housing societies have given complaint letters to the local ward officer.

Dhananjay Junnarkar, a resident and local Congress politician, said, “The BMC officials have turned a blind eye to the issue of mosquito breeding in the area.” Ravi Raja, leader of opposition, municipal corporation, said that he is in talks with the deputy municipal commissioner to resolve sanitation issues of the area.

Sandhya Nandedkar, ward official, R North, was unavailable for a comment despite repeated attempts. Derelict properties, overgrown vegetation and stagnant water are responsible for the mosquito menace in the societies.