This civic body does not practise what it preaches on public health

Even as the district administration has come up with preventive measures to control dengue and other contagious fevers, including severe action against residents who failed to follow guidelines set by the Corporation, the uncovered overhead tanks on the terrace of Dindigul Corporation lodge inside Kamarajar Central Bus Stand has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, thanks to ill-maintenance and stagnation of water.

Three other tanks on the terrace are not covered properly. The Corporation has been storing water in these open and partially covered tanks to maintain water supply to lodges and shops in the building.

With no proper maintenance for a long time, it has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. The corporation sanitary workers neither clean the tank nor spray anti-mosquito repellents to prevent larvae breeding, alleged shopkeepers.

The Corporation health officials took stern action against residents who did not seal water containers in houses. They often slapped fine on owners of private and commercial buildings within the city limit when they found larvae in stagnated water in the tanks and containers. But no attempt was made to even clean the open overhead tanks in the bus stand and contain mosquito breeding, said S. Murugan, a vendor in the bus stand.

However, shopkeepers state that plastic tanks installed on the terrace are closed properly. Lids meant for cement tanks were either damaged or missing for a long time. No efforts were taken maintain them.

To worsen the situation, the Corporation garbage clearing workers have converted an open space between Karur and Tiruchi bus bays inside the bus stand into a temporary garbage dumping yard, polluting the surroundings and posing grave health threat to passengers. They collect the waste from the bus stand and roads around it and dump them at this spot. Fruit wastes and waste generated from eateries, hotels and tea shops too are being dumped at this spot.

Now the temporary garbage yard attracts stray dogs and pigs and become a breeding ground for flies and mosquitoes. Passengers waiting at these bays to go to Karur, Tiruchi and Palani have a tough time. Hygiene and clean surroundings are still a distant dream. The central bus stand was upgraded into A-grade bus stand last year.