Despite active measures, dengue threat looms large in Patiala

  • | Tuesday | 15th January, 2019

A large fogging machine cost around Rs 13 lakh, whereas the cost for small fogging machine is around Rs 70,000. The corporation, however, managed the fogging with its three big machines and 18 small fogging machines. He urged that community participation was must control the dengue menace.The Patiala MC's project to provide a fogging machine in each ward failed to take off. In May 2018, the MC had planned to come up with a fogging machine in each ward. Over 500 residents were penalised after dengue larva was found from their houses or shops.

PATIALA: Even as the district administration and the health department had chip-in all its efforts to curb the dengue menace last year, it all seems to have turned futile with a large number of dengue cases reported in the district.The administration in Patiala was the only in Punjab to issue an order of registering a case under sections of the IPC against the residents found guilty of not taking preventive measures at homes or shops against nurturing of dengue larva.In October 2018, the deputy commissioner strictly ordered to register case against residents who are found to be defaulters again during the inspections conducted by the health department. DC Kumar Amit issued the orders after he visited the sensitive spots and conducted checking at various places and imposed fines to around 44 residents following the recovery of dengue larva in local areas including Adarsh Nagar, Anand Nagar, Ranjit Nagar, Sidhu Colony, Majithia Enclave, Khalsa colony and others. He urged that community participation was must control the dengue menace.The Patiala MC's project to provide a fogging machine in each ward failed to take off. The corporation, however, managed the fogging with its three big machines and 18 small fogging machines. However, the employees said the machines are insufficient to control the spreading of dengue. A large fogging machine cost around Rs 13 lakh, whereas the cost for small fogging machine is around Rs 70,000. In May 2018, the MC had planned to come up with a fogging machine in each ward. As per the plan, the civic body was looking for support from some NGOs however, nothing was done on ground.The corporation claims to have spent Rs 50,000 a day on conducting the fogging in all the sixty wards of the royal city however, all in vain. The civic body claims to have enough fogging machines to conduct the fumigation drive.Corporation’s health officer Sudesh Partap Singh, who was also appointed as Nodal Officer to control the dengue menace said, "In the peak dengue season, the last four months of the year, we had spent Rs 50,000 each day to conduct the fogging in the city. Over 500 residents were penalised after dengue larva was found from their houses or shops."The residents have been imposed a fine up to Rs 500 if the dengue larva was traced in the precincts of their house or workplace. But, according to DC’s order, the defaulting resident were to be booked under sections of the IPC for spreading the disease, in case larva is found during the second inspection by the authorities.Patiala deputy mayor Y S Yogi said, “We have put all our efforts but the residents also need to do their part. There is a need to focus on tackling with such issues of public concern.”Former Mayor Amarinder Bazaz said, “The Patiala civic body completely failed to curb the dengue menace and create awareness. The fogging was not conducted properly and the casualties of dengue are under-reported. The number of deaths due to dengue has increased in comparison to last year. However, neither the health officials nor the state government admits the same with only motive to under-report the dengue casualties.”

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