Are Madurai Police inadvertently increasing the spread of dengue? Yes, if one goes by the argument of a health official.
Though health officials are working on a war-footing to clear stagnant water from tattered tyres, broken pots, plastic cups, old utensils and vases to prevent the breeding of dengue-spreading mosquitoes, they could do nothing about the rainwater being collected in abandoned/seized vehicles parked at dozens of police station premises across the city.
These vehicles provide ample space for dengue-spreading mosquitoes to breed in relatively fresh rainwater, a health official, who wished not to be named, said. The city has been receiving heavy rain on a daily basis and abandoned vehicles are a source of immense worry, official sources said.
When Express visited the Tallakulam police station, around 60 two-wheelers, 20 autorickshaws and five cars were found there. “These vehicles are either seized from the accused or recovered from accident spots. They are left here for years together. They will be handed over to their owners once court proceedings are complete,” said a policeman. A large number of such vehicles were also found at the Anna Nagar and Theppakulam stations. “In the case of two-wheelers, vehicles without petrol tank corks store water and causes mosquito breeding,” a senior doctor said.
Though the police are aware of this danger, they expressed sheer helplessness. Due to inadequate infrastructure, the vehicles are often parked out in the open, only to be left there for years or decades at times.
When contacted, Dr S Senthil Kumar, Deputy Director of Health Service, said he would conduct a meeting with police officers with the consent of the Collector to discuss the issue. Fogging in police stations would also be done, he said. DCP (Law and Order) R Thirunavukkarasu said, “We will discuss ways to maintain the surroundings of police stations. The issue of water storage in abandoned vehicles would also be taken up.”