Delhi HC asks AAP, MCD over dengue, chikungunya prevention this year

Delhi High Court on Monday expressed concern over the outbreak of dengue and chikungunya in the national capital last year. The court also asked the AAP government and the civic bodies as to who would ensure that "all is well" in Delhi this year.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Anu Malhotra also asked the Delhi government and the municipal corporations to give names of the officers who could be held liable to ensure that no dengue or chikungunya cases recur this year.

"Who will give a certificate that there will no cases of dengue and chikungunya in Delhi this time," it said and asked the counsel for all the authorities present in the courtroom whether the Lieutenant Governor, the Delhi Chief Secretary or the Commissioners of the three MCDs would be held liable toensure this or whether it would be someone else.

"Who will go around Delhi and say that this time all is well in Delhi. Delhi is in safe hands," the bench remarked and said "we are concerned for the citizens of Delhi".

The court's observation came during the hearing of two pleas accusing the AAP government and MCDs of not acting vigilantly and responsibly to control dengue and chikungunya menace.

Highlighting that last year dengue and chikungunya were "fatal" in Delhi, the bench observed, "We are talking about the life of people here. Can you permit 21st century Delhi to be reeling under malaria, chikungunya, dengue?"

It said "we are happy to see that the Lieutenant Governor is taking steps to prevent rise in vector-borne diseases".

As per the latest status report of South Delhi Municipal Corporation filed on Monday, as much as 80 cases of chikungunya and 30 cases of dengue have been reported in Delhi since January 1.

These cases were reported during this period even though the season for vector-borne diseases in Delhi is between July and December. According to the data, 4,431 cases of dengue were reported in 2016 and the number of chikungunya cases stood at 9,749 which is one of the worst outbreaks of the disease till now.

(With PTI Inputs)