Lutyens’ Delhi being populated by VVIPs, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) took more measures to keep the vector-borne diseases—dengue and Chikungunya— at bay despite the fact that it has more green cover compared to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) areas.
As per the latest figures, only 28 dengue cases and 32 Chikungunya cases have been confirmed from the area till now as a result of the preventive measures in place, months before the disease outbreak.
“We started our awareness campaign in January. Since then, we have been doing routine checks in the parks and ponds in the area. The department was also extra vigilant regarding the few JJ clusters. Hence, we have extremely low number of positive mosquito-breeding reports emerging out of the slums in comparison to homes,” R N Singh, chief medical officer, said.
At least 250 people have been deployed to carry out the anti-mosquito drive in the area that has 50 per cent green cover.
As per the latest figures, in the Lutyens’ Zone that has houses of ministers and businessmen, the civic body had made around 8, 93, 732 house visits since January. Of these, mosquito breeding was found in 1,732 houses.
Singh said, “As the NDMC has 77 small and medium-sized water bodies, the civic body has been using water treatment methods like the Gambusia fish that devours the larvae. Second method to treat the water is by using chemicals, but that is something the civic body avoids.”
The NDMC has issued 4,700 notices and 220 challans to houses and construction sites so far. Five hospitals— All India Institute Of Medical Sciences, Charakpalika , Lady Hardinge , Ram Manohar Lohia and Safdarjung Hospital—were also served notices after mosquito breeding was found on their premises.
“As mosquito breeding can be found even in five millilitre of water, we are taking extra precautions. Although we do have our challenges, by and large the NDMC area is tackling this mosquito trouble issue on war footing” Singh said.
The NDMC leaders are being conducting lectures and awareness rallies in the schools and colonies.
“At least 68 lectures have been conducted in schools in the past two months,” said an official.