AAP stings MCDs over inaction, Centre tells Delhi to check dengue

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, which has been facing flak for failing to control the dengue situation in the national Capital, on Saturday lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP)-run municipal corporations, alleging that the civic bodies were misguided people to cover up corruption on their part. 

The BJP is misguiding the public by circulating wrong information on funds paid to the civic bodies under the ‘Medical and Public Health’ and their utilisation. To put the record straight, the AAP is putting forth details in <g data-gr-id="47">public</g> domain to clear the air. The figures not only point out that the municipal bodies were negligent and inefficient in dealing with the situation, the details also raise a serious question – where the money meant for ‘Medical and Public Health’ was diverted to.

As on March 31, 2015, of the total money paid to municipal corporations by the Delhi government for ‘Medical and Public Health’ during last fiscal, Rs 213.8 crore is still lying unused.

North Delhi Municipal Corporation has not been able to use 144.3 <g data-gr-id="55"><g data-gr-id="52">crore</g>,</g> while the South Delhi Municipal Corporation still has 15.6 <g data-gr-id="53">crore</g> and East Delhi Municipal Corporation has 53.9 <g data-gr-id="54">crore</g> left. This is the money classified under the ‘planned’ head; over and above what was the ‘non-planned’ assistance given to the three civic bodies. 

The AAP alleged that the three BJP-run municipal bodies are yet to submit ‘utilisation certificates’ for the unspent money. The AAP would like to ask BJP leaders – where is the money? Why was it not spent on public healthcare and tackling vector-borne diseases all this while? Why have the MCDs been crying hoarse over the non-availability of funds when this balance is already lying in their account?

Meanwhile, the Centre on Saturday issued a fresh advisory to the Delhi government, asking it to “intensify” measures to check the mosquito-breeding,  after experts warned that the dengue situation might worsen in the wake of fresh showers in the national Capital. 

“In view of rains today morning and forecast by IMD, there is a possibility of water stagnation, giving rise to <g data-gr-id="41">breeding</g> of <g data-gr-id="44">aedes</g> mosquitoes. It is advised that vector-control measures need to be intensified to contain dengue. You are requested to instruct all officials and departments concerned to intensify the efforts,” said the advisory issued by the Union Health Ministry.

The Ministry said around 12 advisories pertaining to dengue have already been issued from March till August this year. “We are closely monitoring the situation and, hence, this advisory has been issued in the wake of the fresh spell of rains. The ministry has been extending the required technical and financial support and assistance to the states to contain dengue and will continue to do so in order to strengthen them to address the recent upsurge,” Union Health Minister JP Nadda said.

Another person in Delhi succumbed to dengue, taking the toll to 21, with his family alleging that two of the three hospitals they took him to refused to conduct <g data-gr-id="110">test</g> for the vector-borne disease.