Journalism of Courage
THE UT Health Department has decided to issue challans to residents who continue to violate civic norms even after receiving notices from the department for control of dengue. The decision has come following the rise in dengue cases this year.
“We will start issuing challans from Monday,” Dr Anil Garg, nodal officer for National Vector Borne diseases control programme and state surveillance officer, told Chandigarh Newsline. “We will act tough against such violators in the coming days.”
In the past ten days, the number of dengue cases has increased from 82 on September 16 to 183 on Saturday.
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A senior official in the health department said, “Keeping the present situation in mind, the health department has decided that the controlling officers will issue challans against residents who were served notices but are still violating civic norms.”
Officials said the present penalty charges is Rs 500.
Health officials feel that the people’s participation is must in curbing the spread of the disease. “Generally people are supportive and once our team informs them, they take the initiative. But at several places we have seen, people don’t follow the norms even after we serve them notices,” said Dr Garg.
Garg said the department had issued issued more than 400 notices to errant residents till date as well as heads of institutions, including various government departments.
Meanwhile, an official statement said that with the increase in the dengue cases, the malaria wing of the health department has geared up field activities for prevention and control of dengue. The statement said fumigation operations in affected areas had been intensified.
