Has civic body woken up late? Citizens feel so

Hyderabad: In a last-minute effort, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), has decided to procure 150 fogging machines which it would deploy in the 150 wards to fight vector-borne diseases. The authorities also said that each zone would get at least two vehicles. The Hans India spoke to a cross-section of people, a majority feel the authorities should have done this a long time ago.

Prashanth Mamidala, who resides in Anjaneya Nagar, Boduppal, said, "Basically, governance has taken a back step and only elections have become important. People were falling sick but the government had no time, and to rub salt on wounds, stated that it was viral fever and not dengue."

Vinay Vangala, a resident of Matusri Nagar, Miyapur, said, "It seems they woke up after the High Court was unhappy about the number of machines compared to the population and the severity of the mosquitoes menace. The GHMC, isn't sleeping, they are unconscious."

Srinivas Bellam who resides in Bhagya Nagar Colony, Kukatpally, says, "I think it's too late. A lot of damage has been done, many lost their lives and hundreds are still suffering from viral fever, malaria and dengue. The authorities like to react only after some higher authorities pressurise them. They don't believe in the statement 'Prevention is better than cure'. They decided to procure machines when the season is going to end. By next monsoon, machines will not work."

Sai Teja, a resident of Balaji Nagar Colony in Kukatpally, who heads PR and Social Media wing at Forum against Corruption, says, "If they had taken this decision a few months ago, several lives would have been saved. It is the responsibility of both citizens and officials to take preventive measures, the GHMC should have taken any stand before the outbreak rather than reacting so late."