Despite an evident scare of vector-borne diseases like dengue, malaria and chikungunya, the civic body is yet to get up from slumber and maintain cleanliness within urban vicinity. Continuous rains have added more to the woes especially in low lying areas with the civic body crying about limited resources to maintain cleanliness in the capital city. Ward councillors too feel that rigorous measures are required at present to tackle the menace and to maintain hygiene.
The preliminary preparations and strategies adopted by Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) even before the onset of monsoon proved feeble as piles of garbage are spotted in several residential areas making it mosquitoes breeding zones.
“We have not seen the fogging machines in our ward since March, if the officials of RMC are claiming that the cleaning is being carried out at a regular interval, it is farce,” said, Ward Councillor of 21, Roshni Xalxo.
She further added that we just have been given chemical to spray and nothing on concrete is being done to fulfill the cleanliness requirement in a full-fledged manner. Garbage is not being taken by the municipal labourers regularly.
Similarly, Om Prakash, Ward Councillor of 30, added, “In the month of June a container of 1 litre larvicider spray was distributed in our ward which got over in a month. As far as fogging part is considered, it is restricted only to VIP areas. Garbage collection is also encumbered time and again, which often creates problem.”
According to the Directorate of National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme, Jharkhand
recorded 61,456 malaria cases whereas 118 dengue and 20 suspected Chikungunya cases was reported till September second week.
Even so, officials of RMC claims that the civic body is all geared up to control the procreation of mosquitoes during the monsoon season and have prepared a schedule to manage all the 55 wards of capital city for maintaining cleanliness.
“As per the schedule prepared by the officials, spraying is being done on every alternate day in all the wards. At present, we have 110 functional machines for the purpose. Chemicals have been distributed to all the ward councillors. Beside this, fogging has been initiated in all the wards from September first week itself. Malaria control department recently has contacted us to collect the chemicals but they have not issued any specific communiqué for it, hence we are waiting for it,” said, Medical Officer of Health RMC, Dr Kiran Kumari.
Notably, the health department is yet to receive a consignment of medicated mosquitoes nets from Government of India. As per the record available with State Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme Head, maximum cases of dengue has been recorded in Kolhan regions which include Jamshedpur, Saraikela, Kharsawan and Bokaro district.
“Cases of vector borne diseases have been reported less in Ranchi. Apart cautionary advisory and regular camps to create awareness on the issue, the health department will also distribute 3.41 lakh medicated mosquitoes nets in 52 PHCs in the coming days,” added, Dr. Ramesh Prasad, Head, State Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme.