Doon residents penalised for dengue breeding grounds, public establishments ignored
Wednesday, 07 August 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
In a move aimed at combating the spread of dengue, the Dehradun district administration has been raising awareness and penalising residents for the accumulation of stagnant water, which serves as a breeding ground for dengue-carrying mosquitoes. However similar focus is not being laid on government facilities and public establishments.
The administration has collected around Rs one lakh in fines from those whose premises were found to harbour mosquito larvae. Stagnant water in basements, pots, tanks, coolers and other containers in residential areas and some commercial establishments has been targeted in these punitive actions. While these measures aim to mitigate the risk of dengue, there is growing concern about the administration’s lack of attention to similar violations in public establishments. Government facilities, including some government hospitals and public spaces like potted plants placed by the administration on road dividers have also been identified as potential mosquito breeding sites. One can easily observe water accumulated in certain government establishments and public spaces. However, no penalties or corrective actions have been enforced in these areas. This inconsistency has raised questions about the fairness and effectiveness of the dengue prevention campaign.
Many believe that the administration should ensure that public establishments adhere to the same standards imposed on local residents. People opined that effective dengue control requires consistent application of preventive measures across both private and public sectors. The administration’s selective penalisation undermines the overall effort to prevent the spread of dengue in Dehradun and highlights the need for more comprehensive and equitable enforcement strategies.
When questioned about this issue, the Dehradun district magistrate Sonika stated that she had directed the departments concerned to ensure proper cleaning in all public areas under their respective areas. She said, “I will again issue an order to all the departments and bodies concerned regarding this issue. The administration will take action against any negligence observed.” Besides this, the Dehradun municipal commissioner Gaurav Kumar also said that he will ask the sanitation team and other officials concerned to address this issue promptly.
