Mosquito breeding: Bill passed to penalise negligence

Kolkata: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill has been passed in the Assembly on Tuesday, that would allow imposition of penalty to the owner or occupier of premises, if no steps are taken to prevent breeding of mosquitoes.

It may be mentioned that the state government has been carrying on with awareness campaigns to make people realise the need of taking measures to avoid breeding of mosquitoes, as it increases the possibilities of vector-borne diseases.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has also directed officials of all the concerned departments to take necessary measures to check spreading of vector-borne diseases. Firhad Hakim, the state Urban Development and Municipal Affairs minister, said: "Bills for other municipal corporations with the same purpose have already been passed. Now it has been passed for KMC."

"Though the Bill allows penalty ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 1 lakh for not taking necessary steps to check breeding of mosquitoes, we want people to be aware and take steps on their own, as it will be for their own benefit," the minister said.

It has been stated that "if the owner, occupier or person to whom the notice is served, fails or refuses to take the measures within the time specified, the Municipal Commissioner himself or any officer duly authorised by him, may take such measures and recover the cost of doing the same from the owner or the occupier…and shall also be liable to penalty, which shall not be less than Rs 1,000 but may extend to Rs 1 lakh as well."