The Times of India      12.09.2014 

PMC sends notices to 1,300 over mosquito-breeding sites

PUNE: Civic health officials have issued show-cause notices to as many as 1,300 people, including builders, scrap dealers and housing societies, for failing to clear mosquito-breeding spots on their premises.

"Most of those who have been issued notices are owners of construction sites and scrap dealers. We have also issued notices to housing societies. We will file criminal cases if the erring individuals and institutions fail to initiate measures to eradicate the breeding sites on their premises," said S T Pardeshi, medical officer of health, Pune Municipal Corporation.

The civic body's recently-drafted 'Malaria, dengue, chikungunya and other insect- and mosquito-borne diseases bylaws, 2013' states that it is the responsibility of the individual or institution using a property to keep it free of mosquito breeding sites."

We will implement the bylaws in letter and spirit once the state government approves them," said Sanjeev Wavare, assistant medical officer of health (AMoH), Pune Municipal Corporation.

According to a senior civic official, the bylaws state that an individual or institution should employ remedial measures if they see stagnant water on their premises which has mosquitoes breeding in it or is a potential breeding ground.

"Our health staff have started undertaking inspections at sites falling in the jurisdiction of the civic body. If they think that a particular area has stagnant water with mosquito larvae or is a potential site for mosquito breeding, they issue a 24-hour notice to the user of the premises," the official said.

The bylaws forbid individuals occupying private or government properties under the jurisdiction of the PMC from keeping objects such as buckets, cans, tyres in such a way that they may become breeding sites for mosquitoes.

"Those breaking these rules repeatedly will be fined Rs 1,000 every day. If they still continue to break these rules, they will be served a notice regarding filing of a criminal case against them," the official added.

The draft bylaws say that diseases such as malaria, dengue and chikungunya are primarily caused by mosquitoes. The most common spots for breeding of mosquito larvae are water tanks at construction sites, puddles, uncovered septic tanks, pipes without a mesh covering, uncovered wells, uncovered tanks on terraces, unused wells, non-functional fountains, swamps, lakes, gutters, swimming pools and unused water stocked for domestic purposes.