ZP official tells builders to take steps to prevent mosquito breeding

P. I. Sreevidya, Chief Executive Officer of Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchyat; Meenakshi Shantigodu, president of the zilla panchayat; and Kasturi Panja, vice-president, at a meeting in Mangaluru on Tuesday. —Photo: H.S. Manjunath

Dakhina Kannada Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer P.I. Sreevidya has directed officials from the Mangaluru City Corporation and the Health and Family Welfare Department to impose penalty on builders who fail to take precautions against breeding of mosquitoes carrying malaria parasite and dengue virus, and cancel their building licences.

Inspection

At a review meeting here on Tuesday, she asked the corporation and the Health Department officials to regularly inspect under construction buildings and check if steps were being taken to prevent breeding of mosquitoes on their premises.

They should also check whether sufficient care had been taken to prevent labourers from being bitten by mosquitoes. If steps were not taken, the officials should be act tough against them, she said. A corporation official said that Rs. 15,000 had been collected as penalty from 10 builders who had failed to take steps to prevent breeding of mosquitoes. District Vector Bore Disease Control Officer Arun Kumar S.B. said that 297 persons had been found positive for dengue so far this year.

At another meeting, Ms. Sreevidya asked Heath Department officials to keep an eye on cases of dengue and malaria reported at private and government hospitals and take corrective action at the earliest.

Auxiliary Nurse Midwives should be made to closely watch infected patients and ensure that they get right medication.