The State Government has informed the Madras High Court that all those who do not take steps to avoid stagnation of fresh water within their premises and thereby allow it to serve as a breeding ground for aedes mosquitoes, which cause dengue, would be identified and prosecuted under the Indian Penal Code.
Health Secretary J. Radhakrishnan made the submission before the first Division Bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M. Sundar who were seized of a public interest litigation petition filed by advocate A.P. Suryaprakasam with respect to the widespread of the viral fever that had already claimed several lives.
“If sources of breeding of aedes mosquitoes are idenfitied, the owners will be penalised under Sections 83 and 84 of the Tamil Nadu Public Health Act of 1939 as well as under Section 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of a disease dangerous to life punishable with imprisonment for six months) of the Indian Penal Code,” the Secretary told the court.
A status report filed by him in response to the case claimed that mosquito control measures as well as campaigns were being undertaken in the State at an additional cost of ₹13.95 crore to safeguard people from dengue and other communicable diseases and that approximately 4,000 mazdoors had been deployed for dengue-control activities.
The court was further informed that special fever clinics had been established in every government hospital across the State and that they had been functioning round the clock to attend to patients without any delay.
The Secretary went on to state that there were 125 centres where Elisa test for dengue was being done. “Public affected with fever and admitted in hospitals are being treated as inpatient with adequate facilities and special fever wards have also been established... Adequate stock of test equipment, medicines, blood, blood platelets is also ensured,” he added.
Stating that traditional medicines such a nilavembu kudineer (a herbal concoction) and podi (herbal powder) were also being supplied to people free of cost throughout the State, he said that the government had procured 2,000 kg of the herbal powder from the Tamil Nadu Medical Plant Farms & Herbal Medicine Corporation Limited for distribution.
The court was told that Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, in a review meeting held on October 2, had emphasised that every Thursday should be observed as Anti Aedes Day.
