CHENNAI: Around 4000 legal notices have been issued by local bodies in the State for not eliminating mosquito breeding sources from their premises. This was as part of the Directorate of Public Health’s (DPH) drive against mosquito-breeding. Director of Public Health (DPH), K. Kolandaisamy told Express, “In Madurai alone, we have issued 260 notices in a single day today and around 40 have been issued in Sivaganga.”
An order issued by DPH to Deputy Directors of Health Services instructed them to enforce various provisions of the Tamil Nadu Public Health Act of 1939 for preventing and eliminating mosquitogenic conditions in the premises owned by individuals which endanger public health and safety. However, Kolandaisamy said, there were some individuals who would be let off with counselling and given another chance before notices are issued.
“There are some people who are honestly unaware of the consequences of not clearing breeding sources in their premises and are willing to listen to our instructions. There are also people who are preoccupied with so many other things that they don’t find time to clear them. We counsel them on the importance of keeping their premises free of breeding sources,” he said.
While the order issued stated that a police complaint under section 269 of IPC may be registered, Kolandaisamy said it would be used only in cases of individuals who displayed a wanton lack of civic duty and a defiant attitude. “There are some cases where individuals or organisations prevent entry to their premises when we have already identified that they harbour mosquito breeding sources,” he said.