The Health Department has issued a circular to District Health Officers, District Surgeons, Taluk Health Officers  and Municipality Commissioners to take up measures to prevent dengue in all districts in the State.

They have been asked to specially focus on the areas which recorded more dengue cases last year. 

According to the department, 6,408 cases of dengue were reported and 12 people died in 2013. The dengue cases increase due to summer and shortage of water supply. Water stocked water in open containers give rise to dengue larvae, sources in the department said.

Last year,1,106 cases of dengue were recorded in Bangalore Urban district followed by Mysore with 529 cases. Bellary saw 417 cases while Haveri recorded 478 cases. In Ramanagaram, the officials registered  330 cases and Davangere recorded 277 cases.

Director of the department Geetha Nyamagouder told Express, “To bring down the number of dengue cases this time, an order was issued on January 13. All the concerned officials have been informed about the information education activity. The department will also take medical college students for surveillance activity, if necessary”.

Nodal Officer for Vectro Borne Diseases in Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike area Dr Sangamithra the civic body has already prepared a micro plan in December-end to bring down the number of dengue cases. Usually, it starts its surveillance and education activity in April. “As the dengue larvae becomes active  during summer, we give focus on it mainly from June to September. People stock water due to supply issues and when it is left open, the larvae thrive”. Health Inspectors, gangmen, link workers will be briefed and the civic body has come up with booklets on dengue control measures. They will be given to each health worker.

The information regarding, fogging, clearing of empty coconut shells and covering water containers and applying bleaching powder in areas where water gets collected due to leaks will be there. The workers have to provide this information to all houses.

Bringing in financial discipline and completing ongoing works are likely to be some of the focus areas of the BBMP budget to be presented on Monday. For the first time, the ruling BJP is presenting the budget on time.

Speaking to Express, BBMP Standing Committee (Taxation and Finance) chairman M S Shivaprasad, who will be presenting the budget, said the budget size will be less compared to the previous years.

“In my budget, we are trying to bring financial discipline. We are taking some initiatives to mobilise more revenue,” he said.

A senior BBMP official said a high-rise building cell will be formed with a dedicated set of officials to target properties with tax liabilities of `1 crore and more, and collect dues and taxes from them. This will help BBMP get more revenue.

Dr Shivaprasad said they have allotted more funds for ongoing and spillover works.

“We announced projects in the previous years. Due to paucity of funds, we are yet to complete them. In this year’s budget, we have focused more on those works and allotted more funds to them. We are not taking up any new major projects this year. It will be meaningless if we keep on announcing new projects, and not have sufficient funds. Let us complete the works announced earlier,” he said.

Shivaprasad said the budget has given priority to health and will also focus on the environment.

He said he was disappointed with the Chief Minister’s state budget.

“We received only around `1,000 crore, which is not at all sufficient. We need funds. This year, that is one of the main reasons the BBMP budget will focus on financial discipline. If we bring some change now, it will bring discipline in the coming years,” Shivaprasad said.