Army may join Delhi’s battle against dengue

NEW DELHI - With dengue cases rising in Delhi, there is a proposal to use the services of army to help fight mosquito breeding near the Commonwealth Games Village, where athletes and delegates will stay during the Oct 3-14 event, a government source said Tuesday.

“A proposal in this regard is under serious consideration of the government,” the highly-placed source told IANS.

The announcement with this regard seeking army’s help is likely to be made in a day or two, the source added.

Due to massive construction work in and around Games village, which is on the river-bed in east Delhi, and other venues for the mega sporting event, Delhi has witnessed a surge in dengue cases. So far, 1,438 dengue cases have been reported in the capital.

The sources said that the army is likely be deployed around the Games village in particular to clear water logging and spray chemicals on a massive scale.

Due to heavy rains and the rise in the Yamuna water levels, high density breeding has been found in the Games village and neighbouring areas, according to a health official, who said the army’s help will be sought to tackle the situation on a priority.

At least 24 Commonwealth countries have made inquiries about the status of dengue in the capital.

Mosquito breeding will be at its peak during October and the Yamuna banks are likely to be the main breeding ground for mosquitoes responsible for dengue and malaria, the official said.

The proposal was also discussed at a meeting of senior officers, including Municipal Commissioner K.S. Mehra and MCD’s Public Health Committee Chairman V.K. Monga, with Delhi Health Minister Kiran Walia.

Senior officials from the New Delhi Municipal Council and the Delhi Cantonment Board were also present.

In the meeting, Walia sought cooperation of all the agencies and the officials to contain the disease in the capital, an official said.

She also asked the officials to intensify anti-mosquito drive in and around the Games village and areas near Shakarpur drain in east Delhi.

The official said that they have also been asked to “effectively and aggressively” check the mosquito menace and urge people to prevent accumulation of water near their homes.

–Indo-Asian New Service