Former TDP Minister charges Cong govt with apathy

Guntur, Oct 7 (UNI) Senior Telugu Desam Party Leader and former Andhra Pradesh Health Minister K Sivaprasad Rao today said alarming rise in mosquito-transmitted infectious diseases like dengue, chikungunya and malaria had crippled the economy of the state.

Talking to reporters here, Dr Rao said chikungunya had affected about one crore people in the state, at a time when agricultural operations were in full swing. The disease had a long convalescence - 'just imagine the man-days lost', he said.

Dr Rao suggested mass fogging to eradicate mosquitoes. It would cost about Rs 50 crore. Giving an account of steps taken by him when Health Minister, he said an expert committee was constituted at the state and district levels to alert on cyclical patterns of seasonal outbreaks.

Charging the state government with lethargy and apathy to the plight of the people, he said malaria had claimed a heavy toll in tribal areas and polio was showing signs of resurgence.

UNI XR VR AA 1747