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Public Health / Sanitation

After spurt in dengue cases, BMC carries out fumigation drive in N-ward

Thursday, 31 October 2013 06:17 administrator
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The Indian Express         31.10.2013

After spurt in dengue cases, BMC carries out fumigation drive in N-ward

Residents of N-ward, comprising Ghatkopar, requested the civic body to conduct a fumigation drive and hold health camps after a rise in dengue cases was recorded in the ward. On Wednesday morning, a fumigation drive was carried out in several areas in Ghatkopar. BMC doctors also visited these areas.

While residents were screened for various ailments, a fumigation drive was carried out in areas like Mohan Nagar, Bhim Nagar, Shivkrupa society, Shastri Nagar, ONGC colony and MIG colony.

According to Prakash Wani, a resident of Rajawadi colony in Ghatkopar, most residents are worried about the sudden rise in dengue cases in the past one month. "I know more than 20 people who are currently being treated in Rajawadi hospital for dengue. A few more have also been admitted to Sant Muktabai hospital," he said.

There are six hospitals (including two municipal hospitals) in the ward. A local corporator, Pravin Chheda, said more than 80 dengue cases have been reported from four private hospitals. "The BMC's count of dengue cases is lower than the actual count as there is no coordination between private hospitals and the civic department," Chheda said. He said an eight-year-old girl succumbed to dengue in a private hospital earlier this month, but her death was not reported.

However, BMC's deputy executive health officer, Dr Mangala Gomare, said three confirmed cases of dengue were reported from the ward in October and there were 18 suspected cases reported from private hospitals.

According to pest control officer of N-ward, Dr Lalchand Wagh, the breeding spots have increased since September . "In September, we had recorded 145 breeding spots. However, the count has risen to 178 this month. About 45 per cent spots were found indoors," he said.

The breeding spots are equally distributed in slum and non-slum areas in Ghatkopar, Wagh added.

Till now, the city has recorded 615 suspected cases and 697 confirmed cases of dengue this year. While BMC records show 12 deaths caused by dengue, the figures are expected to be higher. 

Last Updated on Thursday, 31 October 2013 07:05
 

Mayor promises more public toilets

Wednesday, 30 October 2013 10:28 administrator
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The New Indian Express           30.10.2013

Mayor promises more public toilets

Councillors at the BBMP Council meeting on Tuesday | NAGESH POLALI
Councillors at the BBMP Council meeting on Tuesday | NAGESH POLALI

The city has around 700 public toilets and less than 400 of them are in useable condition. Newly added wards, consisting 110 villages around the city, do not have a single public toilet. This was revealed during the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) council meeting here on Tuesday.

Some of the existing public toilets were constructed by Infosys Foundation, while some were constructed under MLAs and MPs funds. A few were constructed by BBMP, but it was not able to maintain them.

Commissioner Lakshminarayana told Express, there are around 700 public toilets, of which 300 were constructed by Infosys Foundation. But they were not maintained. “Now, we are considering to call for tender and the builder has to construct toilets and maintain them.”

BBMP is now planning to construct more public toilets. “Funds will be allotted from the Mayor’s grants for constructing one public toilet per ward,” Mayor B S Sathyanarayana told the Council meeting. The toilets, he said, will be constructed in the BBMP land and the councillors can decide the place where the public toilet can be constructed in their wards.

BBMP is also considering to construct the toilets under Public-Private partnership (PPP) model. “The BBMP is into constructing toilets, but not maintaining them,” said Commissioner M Lakshminarayana.  “Let us call for tenders and let the bidder put up advertisement hoardings, collect fee from public for usage of toilets and maintain them. Also, they can adopt the existing toilets,” he said.

Earlier, initiating the debate on the subject during the the meeting, Jayamahal ward Councillor M K Gunashekar said there are very few public toilets in the city and majority of them do not have water supply. “BWSSB has disconnected water supply as BBMP has not paid water bills,” he said. He also urged the Mayor and Commissioner to inspect public toilets. “According to section 58(4) of Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act, it is an obligatory duty of BBMP to provide public toilets. But we are failing in this regard,” he said

According to Gunashekar, a survey conducted by a Bangalore-based agency stressed that the city needs 15,000 public toilets. He also said in this year’s budget, BBMP has not allotted funds for public toilets.

 

BMC plans 7-year beach cleaning programme

Wednesday, 30 October 2013 10:02 administrator
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The Indian Express           30.10.2013

BMC plans 7-year beach cleaning programme

To clean up the dirt and the image of Mumbai's six popular beaches, the BMC plans to undertake aRs 20 -crore seven-year programme. The civic body is also cancelling the current five-year beach clean-up contracts finalised in 2011.

From the budget allocation, tenders collectively amounting to Rs 10 crore are dedicated to only two of the city's most famous beaches — Girgaum Chowpatty and Juhu. Of these, the tender for comprehensive management of cleanliness at Girgaum Chowpatty estimated to cost about Rs 4 crore, has been floated. The city's coastline of naturally protected areas measures 33.95 km.

"Along with manual cleaning, the tenders include use of two sand-moving vehicles that collect garbage as they drive along the coast. The contractors will have to acquire their own garbage collection vehicles for transporting the waste to the refuse transfer stations," said Additional Municipal Commissioner Mohan Adtani, in charge of the solid waste management (SWM) department.

In 2011, the Bombay High Court rapped the civic body for failing to clean the beaches. Thereafter, the BMC laid an estimated Rs 12.6 crore beach clean-up plan and contractors were appointed for five years.

"Mumbai's beaches fall under the collector's land but as a civic service for the city but we are taking up the issue. We will collect the cleaning charges through property tax from the government," Adtani said.

According to the SWM department, the chief reason for dirty beaches is the waste citizens throw into nullahs and roadside drains. "This is released into the sea by the storm water drains and washed ashore during high tide. The problem is severe during monsoon. It is difficult to collect this garbage the sand is wet," Adtani said.

The department had proposed removable garbage screens in the storm water drains network. However, the proposal was shot down by the storm water drains department. 

 
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