BENGALURU: Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike will penalise site owners and engineers taking up construction if they ignore guidelines on controlling the spread of dengue and chikungunya.
Under civic bylaws, site owners have to ensure that there is no stagnant water and other breeding grounds for mosquitoes. They also have to provide mosquito nets and regular health check-ups for workers who stay at the construction sites.
Dr B G Prakash, deputy director of Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, said, “So far 1,226 positive dengue cases have been reported in the state and one person has died. The BBMP has recorded the highest number of cases with 395, and hence the department has stressed surveillance activity and information, education and communication activities.” He said apart from this, health inspectors would do regular rounds and check if larvicide has been sprayed in all building under construction in their limits.
Agreeing with Dr Prakash, Dr Vatsala, chief health officer, BBMP said, “The civic body is concerned as July and August are considered the peak months for the spread of mosquito-borne diseases due to the monsoon. With water stagnation, there could be more cases. Hence, the Palike has expanded its house-to-house survey programme and is also conducting regular health camps in vulnerable places.”
The Palike’s Health Department has already taken up fogging, larvae breeding control, and communication and education activities. “We have hired autos for canvassing in every ward,” said Dr Naveen Kumar, project coordinator, Vector Borne Disease Control, BBMP. Apart from this, the civic agency is also organising public service advertisements on dengue, and chikungunya control programmes through radio and regional television channels, he said.
No Beds Available
Dr S Vagesh of K C General Hospital said, “The number of dengue cases has increased and there are no vacant beds either in male or female wards. Every day people are lining up in huge numbers.”
Dr Sudarshan Ballal, medical director of Manipal Hospitals, confirming this, said the trend is likely to continue till October.