The Hindu 26.09.2009
Widespread fever incidence rattles civic body meet
Staff Reporter
| Mayor forms eight-member co-ordination team |
VISAKHAPATNAM: With members cutting across party lines expressing anger over the failure of the municipal corporation machinery to control mosquito menace leading to widespread incidence of viral fever, Mayor Pulusu Janardhana Rao constituted a committee of eight corporators to coordinate with officials, make field visits and improve the situation.
The committee comprises TDP floor leader Nalluri Bhaskara Rao and his deputy Kona Tata Rao, P. Mutyala Naidu and Md. Rafi, A.J. Stalin, K. Vengala Rao, A.S.N. Raju and G.V. Ravi Raju.
Though the GVMC special meeting was meant for awareness on swine flu, members said malaria, dengue and chikungunya were rampant and each locality had a number of fever patients.
Mr. A.S.N. Raju warned that he would file a suo motu petition with the Lok Ayukta if the situation was not immediately remedied in his ward.
Mr. Bhaskara Rao said almost every house had a fever patient and recalled that the Mayor himself suffered from chikungunya.
MLA Tainala Vijay Kumar wanted a special drive to be taken up to de-silt storm water drains for about 10 days. Lella Koteswara Rao pointed out that no efforts were made to shoot pigs in Gajuwaka area. Aleti Hemalatha said if sanitation at Poorna Market, Municipal Stadium and Velampeta was improved preventing open defecation it would help reduce mosquito menace.
Detailing efforts to contain malaria and other fevers, Chief Medical Officer (Health) Dasari Abbulu admitted the lapses and deficiencies pointed out by members and said he would make field visits to the 19 dispensaries to rectify them. He said the incidence of chikungunya and malaria had gone up. The Mayor asked him to place dustbins in hill-slope areas.
