Civic Body ‘Apathy’ Triggers Dengue Fear In This Cuttack Area

Cuttack: Amid the spurt in dengue cases, Jagatpur Industrial Estate in the city has become a breeding ground for the disease-causing mosquitoes with residents blaming the civic body authorities of apathy.

Three new cases of dengue were reported in Jagatpur as recently as Saturday, sparking alarm in the area that has around 500 small-scale industries with over 10,000 workers.

Of the three new cases, one was reported from Najarpur in ward no. 48 and one each from Golei Chowk and Gopabandhu Nagar in ward no. 49.

Incidentally, the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) had declared these two wards as dengue-prone area when they reported over 1,000 cases in 2016.

On the other hand, residents and members of Odisha Industries Association (OIA) have alleged that the CMC has not learnt a lesson from last time and have not taken preventive measures against dengue. With the prevailing unhygienic and unsanitary conditions, the area may soon turn out to be a dengue hotspot, they added.

They also claimed that repeated requests to the Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO), which is in-charge of maintenance and upkeep of the industrial area, to clean up the locality have fallen on deaf ears.

“On July 23, CMC health officials conducted an awareness rally at Jagatpur Mangala slum and advised the residents to use mosquito nets. They also assured us to conduct such programmes on all Saturdays and intensify bush cutting, fogging and cleanliness activities on Sundays. Though a month has passed, the civic body is yet to start bush cutting and cleanness activities in the two wards,” a resident was quotedcas saying by The New Indian Express.

On his part, Head of IDCO’s Cuttack division RK Mohapatra said necessary steps are being taken to address the issues of garbage collection and cleanliness.