Delhi Municipal Corporation to take special measures to prevent dengue

With the city set to host the Commonwealth Games this year, the Municipal Corporation Of Delhi (MCD) is planning a slew of measures on the health front with special focus on preventing the spread of dengue so that the dreaded disease cannot pose a threat to visitors and sportspersons.

Noting that the Games will be held on October, a month which generally witnesses high dengue cases, MCD Health Committee chairman Sanjeev Nayyar said recruitment of additional domestic breeding checkers and procurement of more number of fogging machines will be among the key steps to be taken by the civic body to combat the problem.

He said at least one to two thousand additional breeding checkers will be recruited to augment the capacity of the civic agency. At present, MCD employs about 3.200 DBCs who carry out door-to-door inspection of mosquito breeding every year.

"We will also procure 12 motorised fogging machines and many dozens of hand-held ones," Nayyar told reporters. He also said during fogging, the MCD staff will use an eco-friendly spray which will create no problems for people suffering from asthma and other respiratory diseases.

For this, the civic body will collaborate with the health ministry as well as the ministry of chemicals and fertilisers, he said. The national capital reported more than 1,100 dengue cases and three deaths last year.

The civic agency, he said, will also focus on the menace of sale of unhygienic cut fruits in various parts of the city. While it has one food inspector for 20-22 wards at present, before the Games one food inspector for each ward will be appointed, he added.