AAP MLAs accuse civic bodies for spurt in dengue, chikungunya

cases New Delhi, Aug 23 (PTI) In the wake of a spurt in dengueand chikungunya cases in Delhi, AAP legislators today accusedthe three BJP-controlled civic bodies of making the city’ssanitation facilities a "mess" which they claimed was the majorfactor behind the spike. Taking a dig at the MCD authorities, Health MinisterSatyendra Jain said their "failure" to maintain cleanliness,desilting sewers have effectively "tarnished" the image ofPrime Minister Narendra Modi and hit his ambitious SwachhBharat Mission in the national capital. Jain said all the three civic bodies have primaryresponsibility to take preventive measures to control thesediseases while the Delhi government has curativeresponsibility. Legislators demanded from the minister to hand over thelist of sanitation workers to them so that they have detailsof cleaning staff for their constituencies. MLA Jagdish Singh said despite the Delhi governmentreleasing funds to MCD, they have failed to clean the city dueto their alleged corruption leading to spurt in numbers ofchikungunya and dengue cases. Okhla MLA Amanatulla Khan said in his constituency, 80 percent of areas are unauthorised so there is no sanitation workthere, adding that one can easily see dump of garbageeverywhere which was often not lifted by MCD. Raju Dhingan, who is MLA from Trilokpuri, alleged thatevery councillor has 5-6 sanitation workers for cleaning theiroffices and houses that is why staff is not available forcleaning colonies. "Drains have not desilted by MCD which is leading to spikein dengue and chikungunya cases in Delhi. MCD has duty toprevent these diseases from increasing. They have not hiredregular staff for 20 years. House should seek details ofpurchase of fogging machines, medicines," Laxmi Nagar MLA NitinTyagi said. Responding to discussion, the Health Minister said they(civic bodies) are "expert" in making money, but they are notpaying attention towards cleaning the national capital. "Delhi Government is fully prepared to deal withincreasing numbers of dengue and chikungunya. Government hasset up 355 fever clinics to attend patients. Councillors do nothave immunity and that they may be diagnosed with thesedisease," Jain said. There is no need for chikungunya patient to be admitted athospital, the health minister said. There has been a sudden increase in chikunguniya cases inthe national capital, with 188 blood samples testing positivefor this mosquito-borne disease in the lastone-and-a-half-months at the AIIMS itself. Dengue claimed its first victim on July 21 when a girlfrom Jafrabad in northeast Delhi died at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash(LNJP) Hospital. Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan’s sister-in-law died of dengueon August 12 at Apollo Hospital here, though the municipalauthorities have not officially acknowledged these two deaths.PTI BUN DIP ZMNDIP