Terming the present situation as dangerous in view of the spread of dengue fever in Puducherry, District Collector E. Vallavan on Friday addressed the media on the multi-pronged strategy being adopted to tackle the situation.
He said that nearly 2,000 people had been treated for symptoms of dengue fever and the Puducherry government was taking steps to prevent the spread of dengue fever. “District administration, with the cooperation of Directorate of Health and Welfare Services, local administration department, education department, NSS, and Nehru Yuva Kendra, has stepped up measures to tackle the problem,” he said.
Fogging machines
Puducherry Municipality, which had only one fogging machine, planned to acquire eight more from the veterinary department. “Besides, Puducherry and Oulgaret municipalities have taken measures to buy 50 repellent to control the mosquitoes. Both the municipalities will involve health and sanitary workers to clean the drainage and spray repellents,” he added. He said that the district administration, through the Directorate of School Education with the help of Rotary and Lions Club, will start providing nilavembu kashayam twice for three days beginning next Monday or Tuesday for the 2,10,000 schoolchildren in all private and government schools. “Primary Health Centres and special camps at public spaces will provide ‘nilavembu kashayam’ to the public,” he said.
To create awareness among public, 4,000 NSS volunteers, especially college students, would carry out a door-to-door campaign and more than 200 youths of Nehru Yuva Kendra would create awareness in every village in Puducherry.
Mr. Vallavan added that land owners who failed to keep the vacant plots clean within 12 days would be penalised or they would have to face six months imprisonment as per the Indian Penal Code.
Bedi inspects work
Continuing with the field visit to review the dengue prevention work being carried out, Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi on Friday visited T.V. Nagar.
Ms. Bedi said the compliance of order under Section 144 of Cr. PC issued by the District Collector would be monitored for implementation. “Post the notice period, a survey of vacant plots would be taken up and ownership identified from Registration Department for serving individual notices,” she said.
In a press statement, she added that the municipality would simultaneously issue public notice and take parallel action to fine defaulters. The imposition of fine by local bodies would be punitive in nature. The Public Works Department would expedite the tendering processes to dredge canals.
“Emergency plans will be drawn to dredge canals before the onset of north-east monsoon in the second or third week of October to avoid inundation of residential areas. The market association will join the efforts in dengue prevention by clearing the market surrounding of stagnant water and ensuring a clean neighbourhood market. A walkathon will be held on Saturday morning, commencing from Raj Nivas to create awareness on dengue prevention and safe Diwali,” she added.