The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) could book you for deaths due to malaria and dengue in your neighbourhood if mosquito breeding grounds are found in and around your home.
This week, the civic body issued notices linking such deaths to the failure of citizens. “Failure to follow our instructions, this office will be forced to prosecute you in court under section 381B of the MMC Act. You shall note that this office will be constrained to file an FIR with the local police station, holding you responsible for deaths due to malaria/dengue in and around your premises,” a notice in a ward office in Goregaon reads.
The notice advises people to take precautions with water tanks, wells, fountains, and even storage areas for tarpaulins, water stored in drums, flower pots, petri dishes, containers for ornamental bamboo shoots, trays collecting drip from ACs, trays holding defrosted water from refrigerators, even bottles with money plant cuttings. These should be emptied twice a week.
Citizens and activists have slammed the move, accusing th BMC of attempting to shirk its responsibilities.
James John, an activist with Agni, a city-based NGO, said, “The BMC has a responsibility to keep a check on health and sanitation concerns in the city. Instead of passing on the blame, they should do regular check-ups of the breeding spots. Even then, we are ready to take the responsibility of keeping our houses and offices clean. But is the BMC ready to take responsibility of deaths and injuries caused by the numerous potholes in the city?”
Arsh Mogre, member of the Residential Welfare Association of Bandra West, said, “If the BMC is holding people responsible for spread of malarial and dengue viruses, the Chief Minister should hold [BMC] responsible for not cleaning the gutters and other sewage systems in the city.”
“Instead of penalising the citizens, the corporation should increase the strength of their staff to effectively cover all the areas,” said Prakash Munshi, a resident of Malabar Hill.
Dr. Padmaja Keskar, executive health officer, BMC, said, “It is just a precautionary measure. Usually, if we find mosquito breeding sites, we first serve a notice and prosecute if needed. Even FIRs are lodged in the case of cattle shelters for not complying with the health and hygiene norms.”
