EPD fails in anti-dengue efforts

LAHORE
Environmental Protection Department (EPD) Punjab has completely failed in carrying out satisfactory anti-dengue activities in the provincial capital where citizens are frequently spotting dengue mosquitoes now-a-days.
In a recently held meeting, Provincial Secretary Environment Iqbal Muhammad Chauhan stressed upon his team to pay attention to Multan and Rawalpindi as most of dengue cases are being reported there. It is ironic that the department has totally ignored Lahore and left the citizens at the mercy of dengue mosquitoes, said a senior official of the department seeking anonymity.
The official claimed that recently the department hired a full brigade of workers besides purchasing dozens of mini vans and motorcycles to carry out dengue surveillance in the provincial capital but unfortunately the vans and bikes are either standing idle in head office building or in personal use of officers and officials.
The hired dengue surveillance staff was deputed on various other jobs within the department, the official maintained. The official maintained that two major projects are underway in the city i.e. Jail Road’s Signal-Free Corridor which is near completion and Orange Line Metro train. He said no site inspection of both the projects had been done to eliminate dengue larva. On the other hand, during the meeting, Secretary Environment directed his team to contact him immediately in case of any difficulty. He said that anti-dengue squads should utilise all their energies for controlling dengue.
The secretary has directed all district officers of the province to accelerate anti-dengue activities on emergent basis and ensure regular checking of tyre shops, junkyards, godowns, nurseries and under-construction buildings in their respective areas. He said that dengue was a collective problem which could not be solved without full participation of the people. He said that people from all walks of life would have to play their role in this regard. He said that every person should ensure implementation of precautionary measures to control this menace. He expressed these views while presiding over a special meeting for eradication of dengue in his office. Director General Environment Dr Javed Iqbal, Director Anti-Dengue and all officers concerned were present on the occasion.
Secretary Environment stressed the need of fixing anti-dengue activities in Multan and Rawalpindi and all-out resources have been provided to officers concerned in this regard.
A report was presented in the meeting, according to which anti-dengue squads of Environment Department have checked 18,738 tyre shops, 11,887 godowns, junkyards, various places at 2,018 union councils and 2,200 nurseries in Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Multan and Rawalpindi from January 1, 2015 to date. Notices have been issued to 4,157 persons so far under dengue rules and 348 cases have been registered. Similarly, 238 buildings and commercial places have been sealed on finding larva at 212 places whereas 29,671 points have been removed causing larva breeding. The secretary warned owners and contractors of under-construction buildings to dispose of stored water every other day so that dengue larva could not breed.