Mayor, MCD team roughed up while inspecting Jamia Nagar

Sawhney, MCD Leader of House Subhash Arya and others had gone to Jamia Nagar to take stock of its efforts to check mosquito breeding in the area, which has witnessed a surge in dengue cases. While Congress councillor Mohd Jamaluddin was briefing officials on the lack of sanitation and asking for a special dengue ward at the local dispensary, some residents began demanding that MCD desilt an open drain in the area. Arya told the gathering that MCD was not in a position to clean the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department drain.

This enraged the locals and a heated argument followed. Members of the Residents’ Welfare Association began accusing the MCD of “negligence and carelessness” and soon a scuffle ensued between them and the MCD team. The Mayor was also manhandled, but he and Arya were quickly whisked away by security personnel.

Jamaluddin complained that only 18 sanitation workers have been deployed in the area, which has a population of over two lakh. “The drain belongs to the UP Irrigation Department, but is cleaned by the MCD every year. However, this time due to fund shortage, we didn’t get money or staff. We partly cleaned it using our own resources,” he said. The councillor claimed Jamia Nagar has reported about 500 suspected dengue cases and five deaths.

 Health officials, however, maintained that only three suspected dengue deaths and 28 cases have been reported in the area. A cleanliness drive has been carried out and vehicle-mounted fogging machines deployed to check mosquito breeding, the officials said.

According to MCD records, the Capital has witnessed 297 dengue cases, one confirmed death and three suspected deaths. However, private hospitals are reporting a much higher figure.

Stung by Dengue, MCD acts
LEAVES CANCELLED: The MCD has decided to cancels all sanctioned leave of its staff and announced that no one would be allowed to go on leave till the monsoon is over. In fact, the Health department staff will even have to work on weekends. Sawhney said they were trying their best to control the spread of dengue, but conceded that the Corporation was worried as the Games is scheduled for October, a month when the disease is at its peak.

136 CHALLANS: The MCD has also issued 136 challans against Apollo Hospital, Delhi Development Authority, Public Works Department, Delhi Jal Board, Delhi Transport Corporation, Central Public Works Department, several government schools and colleges as well as its own Horticulture and Works departments after mosquito breeding was detected on these premises.