Swimming Pools not in use asked to be emptied

New Delhi, Oct 23 (UNI) Delhi Health Minister Yoganand Shastri today instructed the Municipal Corporaiton of Delhi to dry all the swimming pools if they are not in use, as the season is changing and temperature dipping.

He gave the direction at a meeting he chaired to review the Dengue sitution in the capital. MCD Medical Health Officer and District Health Officers and senior officers of Health Department attended the meeting.

Dr Shastri appealed to the people to make efforts to control the breeding of Dengue mosquito as due to recent rains water must have again collected in their surroundings. If needed, petrol or kerosene oil could be used to prevent breeding, he added.

By 2010, the capital should be ready to handle any situation caused by water borne diseases and for that MCD must review their structure and strengthen the manpower and machinery, Dr Shastri asked the MCD to submit a consolidated report with in two-three months in the matter.

He also asked MCD to give due consideration to unauthorised colonies in the action plan as these colonies neither had good sewerage system nor proper water supply lines.

Principle Health Secretary said it was important for MCD to make a consolidated plan to prevent water borne diseases, including prevent mosquitoes breeding round the year.

It was informed that challans had been issued to the Holy Family Hospital and Central Public Works Department's Dev Nagar office as dengue mosquito breeding were found in their premises.

In Delhi, a total of 2,104 cases of Dengue had been reported so far, out of which 1337 were from Delhi and others from surrounding states like Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. A total of 18 deaths had been recorded due to Dengue and there were 23 suspected deaths.

The cases reported in different parts of the city were as follows: Shahdara (North) 166, Shahdara (South) 145, Civil Lines Zones 72, Rohini 111, City 29, Karol Bagh 81, West Zone 86, Central Zone 244, South Zone 67, Narela 54 and Najafgarh 155.

As many as 47 cases had been reported from the New Delhi Municipal Council area and 1,234 cases were from MCD area.

UNI IP SB BS1933