As many as 299 confirmed cases of dengue have been reported in Udupi district between January and June this year, said Rohini, District Health and Family Welfare Officer, on Wednesday. She was speaking at the tri-monthly Karnataka Development Programme meeting.
Replying to a question by the Minister of State for Fisheries, Youth Services and Sports, Pramod Madhwaraj, Dr. Rohini said 186 confirmed cases were reported in June, while 51 confirmed cases were reported till July 26.
She said information was being disseminated in these areas that arecanut leaves and rubber plantation cups were helping in the spread of dengue and thus, should be disposed of properly. An amount of Rs. 42 lakh has been allotted for fogging activities.
Dr. Rohini said four rounds of fogging have been completed. Necessary equipment was being provided to the Taluk Government Hospital in Karkala and 1,166 persons were tested for dengue in the district, she said.
Antyodaya confusion
Meanwhile, zilla panchayat member Babu Shetty said that a person who had applied for an Above Poverty Line (APL) card had got an Antyodaya card, which is given to the poorest of the poor. Priyanka Mary Francis, the in-charge Deputy Commissioner, said that two government employees who had received Antyodaya cards were issued notices. Yogishwar, Deputy Director of Food and Civil Supplies, said that these incidents were due to a computer snag and it would be set right soon.
The issue of management of 243 vented dams and 43 salt-water exclusion dams also came up for discussion. After a prolonged debate, it was decided that the Minor Irrigation Department would supervise the maintenance of the sluice gates of these dams.
Pratapchandra Shetty, MLC, said that laterite stone quarry owners had dug up big pits for quarrying and left them without fencing. Kodandaramaiah, the district mines and geology officer, said that an amount of Rs. 35 lakh had been sanctioned to Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Ltd. to construct compounds around 12 such pits.
