KMC looks to get cooperation of Kolkata Police in tackling dengue

Kolkata: The Health department of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) will soon hold a meeting with Kolkata Police seeking the latter's cooperation over conducting drives against vector-borne diseases in locked buildings.

"Section 546 of the KMC Act empowers the commissioner to take up drives in buildings under lock and key for a long period of time by breaking open the lock , if the civic body feels that the building may have turned into a breeding ground for mosquitoes. However, in certain parts of the city, there have been lack of cooperation on the part of the police which has acted as a hindrance in such drives. We will soon hold a meeting with the top brass of the police to ensure proper support in this area," a senior official of KMC's health department said.

Member Mayor-in-Council (Health) Atin Ghosh chaired a meeting on the present situation of dengue drives in the city and what measures need to be taken to clear impediments, if any for conducting drives smoothly. It is learnt that Ghosh had said in the meeting that he may take up the matter with Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar if such non cooperation continues after some councillors pointed out their difficulties in holding drives at locked building premises. As per section 546, KMC after breaking the lock will conduct cleanliness drive in the building and will then put the same under a new lock and key and the key will handed over to the officer-in-charge of the police station under which the building falls. KMC has been holding such meetings at regular intervals at the borough level to ensure that dengue drive and awareness campaigns gain momentum.

"We have also found out that a number of condemned buildings of the railways in the city are under lock and key and drives need to be conducted there immediately," the senior official said.

KMC will also hold meetings with representatives from apartments in the city urging them to keep their premises clean. "There are also problems with some business establishments who are doing business but have not put in place any drainage or conservancy measures in place," he maintained.

"It is true that the number of dengue cases has been much less in comparison to the previous year. However, there is no place for complacency," the official added.