Keep in view the monsoon season, Delhi High Court told civic bodies in the capital to inform it about the steps taken to control mosquito infestation and prevent vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue.
A bench comprising of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh granted time to the three corporations, Delhi government, Delhi Jal Board, Delhi Cantonment and New Delhi Municipal Council to file the latest status report and listed the matter for further hearing on September 16.
“You file your latest status report keeping in view the monsoon season,” the bench said, expressing concern that any possibility of rise in vector-borne diseases amid the Covid-19 pandemic if the situation must be tackled immediately.
The corporations earlier said they had carried out inspections and public awareness campaigns and sprayed pesticides to control mosquito infestation and prevent vector-borne diseases.
While initiating a PIL suo motu on May 24, the court had said that due to the pandemic, the steps to be taken by Delhi government and the civic authorities had taken a back seat and they needed to pull up their socks.
“All of us are seeing the mosquito problem. Let’s be aware of it. If people get dengue or something and they need to be hospitalised in Covid times, it will multiply the problem very very badly,” it had said.
Meanwhile, North Delhi Municipal Corporation had said it was taking all measures, including focusing on health education and community awareness, to control vector-borne diseases.
It claimed to have carried out house-to-house inspections, dealt with mosquito breeding and conducted anti-larval measures and spraying insecticides in drains, stagnating water and residential areas on a weekly basis. It had also issued challans to house owners who were not taking steps to prevent mosquito breeding on their premises, despite clear instructions of the corporation.
Similar steps were also taken by South Delhi Municipal Corporation, according to its affidavit, which had said that till May 27, there were four malaria, 10 dengue and two chikungunya cases in its areas.
East Delhi Municipal Corporation had said it carried out vector surveillance and conducted public awareness campaigns. Till May 27, it had recorded one malaria and two dengue cases.
During the hearing, advocate Arpit Bhargav sought to intervene, saying the court had issued orders on the same matter in 2017. However, the bench said it would examine the plea once the status reports were received.
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