The national capital on Wednesday reported 74 new dengue cases, taking the total number of patients to 1512, even as a section of MCD mosquito breeding checkers remained on strike demanding regularisation of jobs.
The city has recorded over 280 dengue cases in the last four days. There were four dengue deaths in Delhi this season.
During the same period last year, the number of the vector-borne disease in the city was only 12 while it was 142 and 24 in the corresponding periods in 2008 and 2007.
South Delhi continued to be worst-affected this season recording 252 cases, followed by MCD Central Zone (218) and Civil Lines (177).
Meanwhile, a strike by at least half of MCD’s 3200 domestic breeding checkers (DBCs), who undertake door-to-door surveys to check mosquito breeding, entered its fourth day on Wednesday. The agitation went on despite warnings from MCD that those not returning to work may face termination of services.
The striking workers staged a dharna and raised slogans near the MCD headquarters at Town Hall today.
Anti-Malaria Karamchari Sangh president Ashok Chaudhary said the DBCs will continue their strike and pointed out that several court rulings have come in favour of regularisation.
The DBCs, who are contract workers, have been demanding regularisation of jobs for long. In 2008 too, they had observed a 47-day strike on the same demand. The MCD, however, says it does not have the required funds at present to regularise them.
Officials admit that appointing new people may also lead to a temporary manpower crunch as the process may take at least four to five days.
In some parts of the city, MCD’s permanent employees were used for fogging exercises.
