Delhi High Court: Map dengue breeding areas in Capital

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed the municipal corporation of the national capital to provide a geographic map of the city areas which are usually affected by vector-borne diseases like dengue.

A direction was also issued to the Centre by a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar to place before it a status report on whether any steps have been taken to develop the National Capital Region (NCR) as suggested by it in May this year.

The directions for mapping of dengue-affected areas and development of the NCR came from the court when it was hearing some PILs relating to unauthorised constructions in the city.

"Give us a geographic mapping of the areas affected by dengue," the court said and added that the map would help it issue appropriate directions.

The bench also said that carrying out the mapping would also help in better monitoring of those areas and prevention of the spread of vector-borne diseases.

The bench said that developing of the NCR would help in reducing air pollution, over-crowding and vehicular congestion in the city, apart from addressing the problems of lack of cleanliness and rise in coaching centres being run from residential areas or properties.

According to the data released by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) on Monday, the total number of dengue cases in Delhi has touched 8,549 with 486 cases reported in the previous week. Meanwhile, the number of people affected by malaria has also climbed to 1,111 while the figure for chikungunya stood at 878 with 23 new cases reported during the last week.

The North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), till November 18, reported 692 cases, the highest among the three civic bodies whereas the SDMC registered nearly 689 cases in the same period. Over 359 cases reported came from east Delhi.

NEWS IN NUMBERS

• SDMC recorded a  total of 8,549 dengue cases, and NDMC recorded 692 cases on Monday
   
• Over 359 cases reported came from east Delhi.