The Indian Express                        11.04.2013

Check mosquito breeding, now

To control diseases spread by mosquitoes, Pune Municipal Corporation
has come up with draft rules that propose criminal proceedings against
citizens who fail to check mosquito breeding in the city.

Civic officials said there has been an increase in cases of
dengue, chikungunya and malaria in the past few years. Their breeding
takes place in water tanks at construction sites, potholes, open septic
tanks, water tanks without lids on open terraces, unused wells,
non-operational decorative fountains, other water bodies like nullahs,
swimming pool, storm water drainage and uncovered utensils used for
water storage.

“To check breeding of mosquitoes in the city, PMC has decided to
frame rules that are to be followed by citizens. In case of violation of
such rules, individuals or organisations, whoever be the owner of the
area where breeding of mosquitoes takes place, would be have to pay a
fine of Rs 1,000 and a further Rs 100 a day if no corrective steps are
taken. The civic administration would further initiate criminal
proceedings against them,” Municipal Commissioner Mahesh Pathak said.

According to the proposal, individuals or organisations should
ensure that water stored or left behind on their premises does not
create condition for mosquitoes to breed. “PMC may also issue stop work
order to ongoing constructions, if mosquito breeding sites are located.
This will continue till proper measures are taken,” it added.

If the civic administration locates spots of mosquito breeding on
private property, then the owner would be served a notice to initiate
steps to tackle the situation, the proposal stated, adding that the
civic administration would itself initiate action like “physical and
biological measures” for tackling the situation after citizens fail in
their duties. “The expenditure would be incurred by the owner of the
land.”

If the civic staff is opposed or hindered in any way while
initiating the measures on private properties, the civic administration
would take action against the owner as well, the proposal read.

Citizens are further directed not to leave materials like utensils or
any such object in a way that could help in mosquito breeding, the
proposal also stated.

Storm water drainage system, water supply system, gardens,
swimming pools and other facilities on the premises of the building have
to be maintained in a manner that deters breeding of mosquitoes, it
said.

Speaking on the issue, newly elected chairperson of Women and
Child Welfare Committee Vaishali Marathe said the committee discussed
the proposal at its meeting, but was opposed to criminal proceedings,
though not to penalising citizens found guilty of negligence. “The
penalty on citizens can be understood, but allowing criminal proceedings
would be too much. We would again take it up for discussion before
taking any decision,” she said.