With the monsoon season approaching, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is ramping up its efforts to prevent outbreaks of dengue and malaria, declaring 68 out of its 144 wards as “dangerous” zones.
This announcement, made by Deputy Mayor Atin Ghosh, follows a high-level meeting held earlier this month in Nabanna, the state secretariat, where discussions centred on bolstering hygiene and treatment strategies, prioritising areas that witnessed the highest number of dengue cases in the previous year.
To enhance data collection and transparency, the KMC has established a “Morning Data team,” a first for Kolkata. This team will be responsible for gathering and updating disease-related data online, allowing residents to access real-time information about the number of diagnosed cases in their localities. The 68 identified high-risk wards have already reported between 1 to 10 dengue cases this year.
“The drive to prevent dengue and malaria is already underway. Compared to 2023, the number of cases in 2024 has globally been higher. We are observing the trends in other regions and taking proactive measures,” said Ghosh. He also highlighted the concerning rise of vector-borne diseases in countries like China and Australia.
In addition to identifying vulnerable areas, the KMC said it is actively conducting house surveys and holding regular meetings with the Health state department and other relevant stakeholders. Starting Wednesday, health administrative meetings will be held regularly to identify shut and isolated factories, which can become potential mosquito breeding grounds.
The KMC has already collected Rs 39 lakh in fines as part of its “preventative measures”. To raise public awareness, announcements are being made twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, using microphones. The corporation has set a target to clean all “messy areas”, including potential mosquito breeding sites, by June. Furthermore, notices will be served to dengue-affected areas.
On the ground, the KMC has deployed significant resources, including 32 mobile teams and 144 vector control teams working around the clock. “We have the right to break open the lock of a closed premises which is in locked condition under sections 455 and 456 (of the KMC Act 1980),” said Deputy Mayor Ghosh.