Coordination, extra vigil to check diseases during CWG: MCD

All agencies and stakeholders will have to be extra vigilant to prevent vector and water-borne diseases in the national capital, especially in view of the coming Commonwealth Games, the MCD has said.

With the Games just a few months away, a meeting of MCD, Delhi government, DJB, DMRC, Delhi Police, DDA, Northern Railway, DTC, Flood and Irrigation Department and DSIIDC was held yesterday to discuss measures to prevent such diseases.

At the Inter-sectoral Coordination Meeting, which was preponed by two months in view of the mega sporting event in October, Municipal Commissioner K S Mehra said the next few months will be all the more important because it involves the prestige of the country before the international community.

"There is potential for spread of such vector and water-borne diseases in view of the large scale construction activities and presence of migrant labour. We will have to be extra alert," he said.

For the past few years, Delhi has seen a large number of cases of dengue after the rainy season. Officials say the month of October generally witnesses an increase in dengue cases, a fact which is causing some concern as the mega sporting event is scheduled from October 3 to 14.

Mehra stressed on the need to focus on unauthorised colonies from where the maximum number of cases is reported. He asked Irrigation and Flood Control Department and DSIIDC to ensure free flow of water in these colonies to prevent stagnation of water and breeding of mosquitoes.

He said it is important to have regular desilting of drains and taking anti-larval measures along the bank of Yamuna river.

Municipal Health Officer N K Yadav urged all the civic agencies to nominate a Nodal Officer from their organisation to coordinate with MCD in preventing mosquito breeding and keeping a check on diseases like dengue, malaria and chikangunya.