BMC stings railways

The civic body has threatened to take legal action against Central and Western railway authorities if they fail to honour guidelines set by it, especially in malaria-prone F South and G South wards
u00a0
In a bid to prevent a rerun of last year's malaria debacle, the civic body has adopted a more aggressive stance in its anti-malaria drive this year, threatening to take legal action against any body that does not comply with the civic body's anti-mosquito guidelines.

The civic body's insecticide department recently dispatched notices to authorities of the Western (WR) and Central Railways (CR), threatening them with legal action in the event of their failure to maintain the anti-malaria measures within their premises. The notices were issued to railway properties in F south and G south wards.
u00a0
While F south has a CR workshop in Parel, G south houses a WR workshop. BMC officials have detected that these workshops are potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes, owing to their open storage spaces, and close proximity to water tanks.

In May, 338 people tested positive for malaria in F south ward, while 948 tested positive in G south wards.u00a0
MiD DAY had earlier reported in its April 24 edition that the civic body had alerted CR authorities to take the necessary measures on in railway yards, to prevent mosquitoes from breeding ('Parel's malaria workshop').

The pesticide control department has issued six notices to the CR officials at the F south ward, asking them to comply with the guidelines set by the BMC for mosquito eradication. These measures include plugging leakages of valves, dismantling unused water tanks, and filling up holes in the tanks to prevent accumulation of water.

Growing menace
The F south ward has already seen a steady rise in the number of reported malaria cases in the last three years. In 2008-09, 1,644 residents were diagnosed with the disease, 2,991 in 2009-10.
u00a0
The numbers rose to 4,499 by March this year. A similar trend has been noticed in the G south ward. Here, 711 people tested positive for the disease in 2008-2009, 2,149 in 2010-11, and 3,115 by March this year. MiD DAY obtained these figures from the civic dispensaries operating in the wards.

While the CR authorities have complied with injunctions in the first five notices sent to it, it has asked for time to do the same for the sixth notice, which instructs it to eradicate all possible breeding grounds.

The civic body has also asked for monetary compensation amounting to Rs 1 lakh, so it can fund the fogging and anti-larvae activities in the workshop area.

Official speak
Dr Arun Bamne, insecticide officer, BMC, said, "Five cases are already pending against various authorities in the courts. We have issued notices to the Railways for carrying out activities that will curb the spread of malaria.
u00a0
There is a provision in the BMC Act, under sections 381 and 381(A), which allows us to prosecute any public body that allows water to stagnate, making them breeding grounds for mosquitoes. We will initiate legal action if the work is not done within the deadline set down in the notices."

MiD DAY had reported earlier in its May 17 edition that the civic body had decided to take legal action against land owning authorities, which failed to comply with steps set down by the civic body to ensure mosquito eradication. ('BMC mulling action over 'defaulter' navy and army')

Work in progress
The CR authorities have so far made 698 of their 1,456 water tanks mosquito proof, while WR authorities have made 1,295 of its 1,458 mosquito proof. As per the status on on June 14, CR and WR were yet to make 163 and 758 water tanks mosquito-proof, respectively.

The Other Side
The chief PRO of WR, Sharat Chandrayan, said, "We are in maintaining regular correspondence with the civic body regarding necessary anti-malaria steps. We are complying with all the steps set by them."

Meanwhile, chief PRO of CR, V A Malegoankar, was not available for comment, even though messages and calls were sent to him repeatedly.