Hyd needs to buck up to fight viral fevers: KTR

Hyderabad: Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) Minister K T Rama Rao has stated that Hyderabad needs to buck up and citizens have to do their bit as community participation is key in helping the government effectively control dengue and other fevers.

Not leaving the job just to 25,000-odd GHMC staff to keep the entire city clean, the nearly one-crore population in the State capital have to pitch in and keep their premises and houses free from stagnated water in storage tanks, washing areas, plant pots etc to be safe from dengue fever.

He said the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has been doing its job for the last few days and only if people join hands results seen in Indore and New Delhi can be achieved.

"I agree it is the duty of GHMC to clean lakes and nalas. But how would one explain throwing plastic bottles and even blankets and mattresses in open nalas," he questioned.

Rama Rao who was sworn in as a cabinet Minister on Sunday came to GHMC office along with Health Minister Eatala Rajender to hold a joint review on steps being taken by civic officials in view of the rise in viral fevers and waterborne diseases in GHMC limits. Rama Rao held a marathon meeting that went on for six hours.

Addressing the media after the meeting, Rama Rao stated that GHMC Commissioner was instructed to prepare a 12 month calendar with a list of various diseases and fevers impacting the population here and action plan that would specify what the civic body should do and what the public should do.

He said that starting Tuesday (September 10), he and Eatala, along with Commissioner and Deputy, Additional and Zonal Commissioners would be on the field along with Corporators holding public sensitisation camps in schools, slums and residential colonies on measures and steps to be taken to control fevers.

Also, GHMC sanitation wing has been directed to remove garbage points, numbering 1,000, in every nook and corner to control the mosquito menace.

Further, Rama Rao said that GHMC would be holding health camps in Musi peripheral areas in the State capital as they were found to be high risk for dengue fever. He appealed to the public not to get panicked as all fevers are not dengue.

KTR bats for traffic fines

When asked his opinion on the hefty traffic fines that are going to be implemented for traffic violations, Rama Rao said that he feels nothing wrong with it.

"Why one motorist has to stop his vehicle on the Zebra crossing at a traffic signal. Should there be no space for pedestrians to cross the road," he asked.