Civic bodies asked to go all out

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Health Minister Satyendra Jain, on Thursday, directed officials of the three municipal corporations, the NDMC and the Delhi administration to ensure that effective steps are taken to prevent dengue. They also pledged to provide “all possible resources to deal with the situation.”

Mr. Sisodia asked the MCD officials to provide details of resources and manpower, including financial help required, to launch preventive measures like widespread fogging, anti-larvae medicine spray and door-to-door house visits for surprise checks.

“He directed the MCD officials to ensure that they take visible steps for dengue prevention to check the panic being spread,” said a senior government official.

The meeting was attended by the commissioners of the three municipal corporations, the NDMC chairman, the Divisional Commissioner, all Deputy Commissioners and senior Delhi government officials, including the Chief Secretary K.K. Sharma.

The MCD commissioners said their corporations were taking all steps, but Mr. Sisodia asked them to make their efforts more effective.

Mr. Jain said the government had been receiving complaints from MLAs and residents regarding lack of fogging and house visits by MCD staff. “The Deputy Chief Minister directed the MCD commissioners to submit a daily report of steps being taken to prevent dengue in accordance with the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act. Divisional Commissioner A. Anbarasu provided details of instructions given to all district magistrates,” the official said.

Mayors of the BJP-led municipalities, which are facing a financial crisis, asked for funds to deal with the spurt in dengue cases.

Last year, the government had cut the North Delhi Municipal Corporation’s health budget by about Rs.10 crore, with the civic body getting only Rs. 9 crore of the allocated amount of Rs.37 crore, said Mayor Ravinder Gupta.

“This is not the time for blame game and political tussles. We asked for funds so we can ramp up fogging and medical care,” said Mr. Gupta.