Dengue larvae found at 18 government offices

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 24

The Health Department has sent show-cause notices to 18 government offices, including the Punjab Secretariat, Mini Secretariat, Kendriya Sadan, Chandigarh Police headquarters and the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB), after dengue larvae was found in desert coolers installed there.

“We have sent notices to 18 government offices. We found dengue larva in their coolers. Their officials have been asked to appear before the department personally to explain the reason,” said a Health Department official.

In addition to it, notices have been sent to 2,294 other defaulters. “In houses, we have found the larvae not only in coolers, but also in flower pots and overhead tanks. Our inspection shows that despite notices, people are not bothered about cleaning their water tanks or coolers,” an official said.

Notably, 12 cases of dengue, 18 of malaria and two of chikungunya have already been reported from city government hospitals. The department claimed the number of patients was down by 50 per cent compared with the last year due to awareness drives.

Health officials said, “We are carrying out door-to-door inspection. We have also visited government schools to spread awareness on the issue. Teachers are also being trained. Fogging has been done at 4,000 houses and commercial places.” Meanwhile, the department has issued 11 challans in this regard. Residents have been fined Rs 500 each for not keeping their surroundings clean.

210 penalised in Mohali 

Mohali: To check the spread of dengue, the Mohali administration has started penalising those from whose house dengue larvae is being found.

• Joint teams of the Health Department and the Municipal Corporation, Mohali, are conducting surveys in urban as well as rural areas.
• “So far, we have issued a total of 210 challans in this connection. Residents have been fined Rs 500 each,” said a senior official of the Mohali MC.
• It is to be noted that at least two cases of dengue have surfaced in Mohali. Mohali district has topped the state in dengue cases in the past two years. TNS