2 lakh homes checked in 13 days for mosquito-breeding spots

NAVI MUMBAI: Corporators are wary of civic claims of inspecting more than 2 lakh houses for mosquito-breeding spots in 13 days. They have also questioned the authenticity of dengue tests held at the civic hospital, as the officials continue to acknowledge only two confirmed dengue cases in the city so far.
The civic health department claimed to have visited 2,06,771 houses in search of indoor breeding spots of mosquitoes in 13 days.They have also reportedly inspected 35,799 breeding spots in the houses.
A special drive was undertaken by the civic health department to check mosquito menace from November 5. But the figures provided by the administration have failed to convince the corporators.
“There is something wrong with the way the corporation is conducting dengue tests. Blood reports testing positive for dengue are being dismissed by officials who insist they are suspected cases,” said NCP corporator Chandrakant Patil.
Patil demanded a response from the health department at the general body meeting on Tuesday on the steps taken to fight dengue. The civic health department stated that around 50-odd houses are being checked daily for mosquito breeding spots but NCP corporator Kishor Patkar refuted the claim. “Till date, no such checks have been conducted in my ward,” he said.