Civic bodies deal with dengue, chikungunya as mere formality: NGT

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday expressed indignation over the widespread of vector-borne like dengue and chikungunya and termed the steps taken by the authorities to contain the menace as a mere "formality".

10 local commissioners across the three municipal corporations have been asked to inspect different places across the city, and report back to the NGT.

The bench headed by NGT chairperson Swatanter Kumar also refused to agree with submissions made by civic bodies that dengue patients were mostly outsiders and sufficient precautions have been taken to handle the situation.

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“We appoint local commissioners to inspect areas under the jurisdiction of all the municipal corporations and the Delhi Cantonment Board.They shall submit a complete and comprehensive report to show places of waterlogging and dumping of municipal solid waste”, the bench said.

The civic bodies have also been asked to report on the mechanisms adopted for dumping of municipal solid waste in unauthorised colonies, and whether sites for fumigation have been identified or not.

The NGT has also refused to agree with the submissions made by the civic bodies that most dengue patients came from outside Delhi, and that sufficient precautions had been taken to handle the situation.

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The bench was hearing a plea by former CPCB scientist Mahendra Pandey, calling for setting up of committees to implement precautionary, preventive and curative actions to ensure the city’s residents are not exposed to vector-borne diseases.