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Public Health / Sanitation

Civic bodies offer new excuse: Rains washing away biolarvicides

Thursday, 09 September 2010 10:54 administrator
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Indian Express   09.09.2010

Civic bodies offer new excuse: Rains washing away biolarvicides

Express News Service Tags : corporation, NDMC, biolarvicides Posted: Thu Sep 09 2010, 04:07 hrs

 New Delhi:  While the Capital seems on the verge of a dengue outbreak, the civic authorities, “battling to control the outbreak”, have come up with a slew of factors to pass the buck. Both the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) have now claimed the persistent rains in Delhi are playing spoilsport in their efforts to control mosquito-breeding.

According to NDMC Health Officer P K Sharma, the continuous rains are washing off the anti-larvae chemical sprayed at vulnerable locations. The same was echoed by MCD Health Committee chairperson V K Monga. “The biolarvicide sprayed by our staff at spots vulnerable to mosquito-breeding is getting washed away most of the time due to the heavy rains, making the whole exercise futile,” he said.

Municipal Commissioner K S Mehra added that fogging exercise carried out by the MCD in residential areas is not totally effective as the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes that spread dengue “can fly only upto a certain height and are usually found in spots in the house like underneath furniture etc”.

“We are intensifying fogging. Residents too must undertake all precautions to control mosquito-breeding in and around their houses,” Mehra said.

The MCD has also roped in employees of the Public Health Department and volunteers — mostly school students — from the National Service Scheme. Monga said these volunteers will visit residential colonies and parks and distribute pamphlets on steps to be taken to combat the spread of dengue and malaria. 

“The health employees will organise rallies and meetings with RWAs and schools on weekends, and on weekdays after office hours,” he said.

Monga added that to check breeding, spraying of pyrethroid inside all rooms of the Village and 21 other sports or training venues in the city will be carried out by the MCD and the Pest Control of India.

Last Updated on Thursday, 09 September 2010 10:55
 

Dengue cases reach 1580 in Delhi

Thursday, 09 September 2010 10:52 administrator
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Indian Express     09.09.2010

Dengue cases reach 1580 in Delhi

Agencies Tags : dengue, MCD Posted: Thu Sep 09 2010, 14:07 hrs

New Delhi:  The national capital on Thursday reported 68 new dengue cases, taking the total number of patients in the city to 1580. The city has recorded over 350 dengue cases in the last five days. There were four dengue deaths in Delhi this season. During the same period last year, the number of the vector-borne disease in the city was only 12 while it was 160 and 26 in the corresponding periods in 2008 and 2007. South Delhi continued to be worst-affected this season recording 260 cases, followed by MCD Central Zone (225) and Civil Lines (188).

 

Marathon 2011: Vadodara will run to keep city clean

Wednesday, 08 September 2010 11:39 administrator
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Indian Express    08.09.2010

Marathon 2011: Vadodara will run to keep city clean

Express News Service Tags : marathon 2011 Posted: Wed Sep 08 2010, 05:33 hrs

Vadodara:  The municipal corporation and organisers of the Vadodara Marathon have taken up the issue of cleanliness for the 2011 edition of the competition.

Interestingly, right from the concept of ‘Clean Vadodara’ to its execution, most aspects are similar to the initiatives ‘planned’ by the civic body in the current year, which hit many hurdles before it could be executed. According to sources, top VMC officials have already warned the marathon organisers not to promise anything which cannot be implemented.

Marathon mascot ‘Bako’ (a colloquial term used in Gujarati to address someone in friendly manner) will lead the cleanliness awareness drive.

Amit Bhatnagar, one of the directors of Vadodara Marathon, said they will take up several initiatives under the “Clean Vadodara, Green Vadodara” slogan.

“Our job is to sensitize the residents. At the same time, we will take up tasks, which are possible to execute, like providing garbage bins at subsidised rates and convincing the contractors to remove debris from roads. We are making a beginning for the people to keep the city clean. We will plant saplings in vacant plots with due permission.”

The organisers have not involved any government agencies like last year when they had roped in the police to raise funds for the Vadodara Traffic Education Trust.

“Organising such an event is not easy. We had made some mistakes last time. That is why we have made several changes in our approach,” he said.

This time, there will be only two categories — 21 km and 15 km — and every competitor will be provided with RFID tags, which will be tracked through satellite. The move aims to maintain transparency during the race. 

“Last year, we had to return 4,000 dollars, which had come from NRIs as we could not get the RBI permission in time. But this time, it will be done well in advance. Even the registration would be stopped a month prior to the event to avoid inconvenience to the participants,” Bhatnagar said.

Top marathon official resigns

Following differences in the way last year’s marathon was organised, one of the directors, Nilesh Shukla, has resigned from the post.

“I resigned because the difference of opinion was becoming personal. It was not possible to be part of the next marathon in such an environment,” Shukla said.

This comes after the marathon organisers handed over the remaining amount of Rs 1 crore to Vadodara police last week. A rift between the two had surfaced over non-payment of the amount.

 
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