Ludhiana municipal corporation yet to feel the sting of dengue cases
Despite the health department being on its toes for months for inspection of larvae of dengue-causing mosquitoes, the municipal corporation (MC) fails to challan the violators.
Despite the health department being on its toes for months for inspection of larvae of dengue-causing mosquitoes, the municipal corporation (MC) fails to challan the violators.
As a result, dengue cases continue to pop up in the same localities, such as Haibowal Kalan, Basti Jodhewal, Dugri, Madhopuri, Deep Nagar, Giaspura, and even posh area like Model Town, with residents, having no fear of penalty, not paying heed to keeping their surroundings free of stagnant water, which is a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
With Ludhiana getting hundreds of dengue cases each year, the health department and MC had joined hands to trace mosquito larvae and fine violators to curtail the cases.
However, in spite of health department finding larvae in over 200 locations this year, the civic body fails to issue challans. The health department is joined by MC’s health wing as well during the inspections.
When HT tried to get data regarding the challans, MC officials kept passing the buck, but no one had any estimate.
Amarjit Sekhon, chief of health and sanitation, MC, said, “We conduct door-to-door inspections the detect larvae and fine people, so that they remain cautious in future.”
When asked for the number of challans issued this year, he referred this correspondent to health officer Dr Charanjit Uppal, who passed the buck to health inspector Dr Vipan Malhotra. When contacted, Dr Malhotra said, “I don’t have the exact data but we have challaned violators.”
District epidemiologist Dr Anil Verma said, “This is a fact that there are few areas which remain on high risk for dengue every year. This year, too, we found dengue larvae in these areas.”
“We destroy the larvae on the spot and recommend fogging in such areas, but still new cases keep springing up in the same areas. It is because the people neither take our advice seriously nor have the fear of getting penalised,” he added.
Another dengue case pops up
With two more cases of dengue on Monday, total number of dengue cases from Ludhiana reached 27. A 26-year-old woman from Kakowal and a 24-year-old woman from Gopal Nagar tested positive for dengue on Monday.
