Malaria bites Bopal

The number of cases of malarial infection is on the rise in Bopal and Ghuma, two of the fastest-developing residential areas in city. One does need to do a research into the possible reasons — one visit to the area and what strikes you immediately is the filthy conditions.

The two localities have water-logged places in plenty and they are breeding grounds for mosquitoes. The residents have complained time and again about the irregularity in collection of solid waste, removal of potholes and release of drainage water on the roadside. The public grievances apparently have failed to stir the gram panchayat into action.

For record, the Bopal gram panchayat has put containers and dustbins to collect solid waste. However, the collected waste is not disposed timely and this results in unhygienic condition prevailing all over the area. “The administration has failed to regularise solid waste collection and disposal system,” said Paresh Ramawat, a resident of Amidhara Society. The cases of malaria are on rise in Bopal as besides ditches and puddles, garbage collection containers have become breeding place for mosquitoes. Anjana Patel, sarpanch of Bopal gram panchayat, fell prey to malaria mosquitoes some days back.

The complaint register of the Bopal gram panchayat shows that many complaints regarding unhygienic conditions have not been looked into even after 10 days. “I sought to draw attention of the authorities to overflowing of containers at least 10 times, but the complaints remain unresolved,” said Dilip Dave, a resident of Pushpam Bungalows in Bopal.

When contacted, Anjana Patel said that the gram panchayat has already started working on removing the garbage and spraying pesticides in the area to check mosquito menace.

“We are facing constraints of budget, human resources, vehicles and many other important things,” she said. The talati-cum-mantri of Bopal gram panchayat, Viramdevsinh Chudasma, said the panchayat is trying its best to control the situation. However, the area under purview has expanded so fast and has now become so vast that it was difficult to achieve desired results within the administrative limitations, he said.
“But, we are still carrying out the orders of taluka and district development officers regarding health and sanitation,” he said.

As for the prevailing road conditions, a ride on camel anywhere in the city can be less bumpy compared to the ride on a Bopal road. Numerous potholes and cave-ins along with puddles of muddy water have made commuting on a road in the area a nightmare for Bopal and Ghuma residents. “The condition of roads has gone to dogs in the monsoon. We have lodged complaints time and again, but in vain,” said Jawaharsinh Sagar, a resident of Shivam Bungalows.