BHUBANESWAR: With vector-borne diseases such as dengue creating scare last year, the State Government is in no mood to take any chances this time around. It has asked Chief District Medical Officers (CDMOs) to prepare a list of vulnerable areas and submit the same to collectors for action.
Since Angul district turned out to be the epicentre of dengue in 2011, the Government has asked all collectors to identify places, which facilitate breeding of the vectors, and eliminate the causes. Since such actions lead to public disturbances, sub-collectors have been asked to book cases under Section 133 of CrPC which authorises magistrates to issue conditional order for removal of public nuisance.
Chief Secretary BK Patnaik, in a recent letter to 13 administrative departments, directed them that sub-collectors would be entrusted with responsibilities to coordinate with other departments and take administrative as well as legal steps under Section 133 of CrPC for prevention of dengue. They will be held responsible for negligence.
The Government said any unexpected rise of clusters, which cause fever, must immediately be reported to the nearest medical officer for timely investigation.
It has also turned its attention to creation of awareness and directed that teachers and students in all educational institutions must be sensitised about dengue transmission and preventive measures.