GHMC steps up drive to curb seasonal fevers

Hyderabad: The GHMC Commissioner on Monday assured the denizens of the city that comprehensive repairs to the roads battered by the recent torrential rains would be undertaken in a couple of days as the rains recede. He said all potholes would be filled and roads will be restored to their motorable state very soon.

The re-carpeting of damaged roads would be taken up after a week. Daily about 50 to 60 tonnes of BT are being generated to repair potholes, he informed. Stating that the GHMC was re-focussing on containing the spurt in seasonal fevers, he pointed out that around 1.25 lakh houses were covered with fogging and spraying for curbing mosquito breeding.

Regarding Dengue cases, he noted that the incidence of cases was on the decline day by day with the civic body taking all effective measures like fogging, spraying at vulnerable places which are prone to larva breeding and taking various awareness campaigns at local Bastis, schools.

Alongside, the corporation is also conducting widespread health camps in slums and at Basti Dawakhans. Till now, 1,043 dengue cases were reported in the city. The officials are hopeful of further curbing the spread of any fevers as the measures were yielding results. For the past couple of days, there are about 40 dengue cases daily when compared to 100 to 120 cases in the past.

Regarding dilapidated buildings, GHMC is demolishing the identified buildings and this is a continuous process. From October 2 onwards, GHMC personnel would be actively participating in the implementation of ban on single use of plastic and special drive would be conducted and awareness created among the citizens not to use single use plastic. The corporation is weighing various options how to recycle the used plastic.

On the arrangements for Dasara and Bathukamma festivals, the corporation chief informed that baby ponds are getting ready and steps are being taken to transport the pond water to the nearest STP instead of letting it into lakes as it would further pollute the water bodies.

DS Lokesh Kumar assured that the financial position of the civic body was comfortable and that there was no dearth of funds, as the collections of property tax has touched Rs 200 crore for the period so far in the current financial year, as compared to the corresponding period in the last fiscal. Revenue from the Town Planning wing is also increasing by way of issuing building permissions, he added.