Indian Express 27.07.2010
Court clears way for MCD to buy chemical for dengue prevention
Utkarsh Anand Tags : MCD dengue prevention case, delhi Posted: Tue Jul 27 2010, 01:19 hrs
New Delhi: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), which is facing difficulties in procuring an adequate amount of biolarvicide to combat the threat of rising cases of dengue, got a breather from the Delhi High Court on Monday as it dismissed a petition against the civic body’s contract to purchase the medicines.A Division Bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Manmohan dismissed the plea filed last month by Sumitomo Chemical India Private Ltd, alleging irregularities in the manner its bid was rejected and the contract granted to another company.
The matter related to the procurement of biolarvicides for this season by the MCD, which gets its required lot through Hindustan Latex Ltd (now HLL Lifecare Ltd) — its procurement agency.
fter the Bench stayed the execution of the contract till the final disposal of the matter, the MCD had approached the court seeking temporary relaxation in procurement of biolarvicide for an interim period in the “interest of public health”.
The agency had claimed it was left with “no stock of the required biolarvicide, as a result of which it is feeling handicapped in taking preventive action to combat the threat of outbreak of dengue and malaria”.
The MCD was compelled to use another chemical larvicide, Temephos, which is not as effective as biolarvicides, especially to prevent mosquito breeding in drains.
Comprehending the urgency, the Bench had granted temporary reprieve to the MCD and the medicines were allowed to be procured in limited number.
On Monday, the Bench dismissed the Sumitomo’s petition after upholding the HLL’s submission that the company did not fulfill the requisite criteria for entertaining its bid.
“Judged from both the spectrums, it is clear as noon day that the petitioner did not satisfy the requisite/essential conditions and the element of public interest, in certitude, tilts in favour of the decision making process of HLL Lifecare Ltd,” the Bench held.
Expressing satisfaction over the court’s verdict, Municipal Health Officer N K Yadav told Newsline that though the MCD did not have anything to do with the legal battle directly, the disposal was certainly going to ease their tasks in controlling dengue.
“It certainly is a breather for the MCD. Instead of batches, we can now receive medicines in sufficient quantity which can be used even in emergent conditions in larger public interest,” Yadav added.
