HC seeks report on Dengue from Bengal govt

The Calcutta High Court on Friday directed the West Bengal government to file a status report before it by next week on the steps taken to control Dengue and other vector-borne diseases in the state.

The bench comprising of Acting Chief Justice Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya and Justice Arijit Banerjee, gave the direction while hearing a set of PILs filed on Thursday seeking monetary compensation to the family members of those who have died from Dengue in West Bengal and appointment of a medical commission to suggest preventive measures and means to control the spread of the vector-borne disease.

"The court has asked the state government to submit an action taken report before next Friday, when the next date of hearing has been fixed. We have prayed for directions from the court to the authorities concerned for formulating strategies for proper and effective implementation of the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP)," Rabishankar Chatterjee, the petitioner's counsel, said.

The petitioner has also prayed for penal measures against those violating preventive measures needed to restrict spread of vector-borne diseases.

Meanwhile, two huge processions by the opposition- Left Front and Congress, accusing the Mamata Banerjee-government of not acting properly in controlling the spread of Dengue, were taken out in the metropolis on Friday afternoon.

State Congress president and Lok Sabha MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury alleged that the state government was deliberately hiding figures of death due to Dengue as it wants to portray Trinamool Congress as sensitive towards people's woes.

"Mamata Banerjee is misleading the people of Bengal. Everyday people are dying and she is busy fudging and suppressing figures. Had she come up with the actual death figures due to vector-borne diseases, the state could have at least sought Centre's help and even financial aid. But, she remains adamant at the cost of people's lives. Due to her pressure tactics, even doctors are writing unknown fever as cause of death in certificates," said Chowdhury.

The Left Front leaders led by CPI(M) Politburo members Biman Bose and Surjya Kanta Mishra, accused the state government of being insensitive towards the woes of the people suffering from vector-borne diseases and demanded immediate action in controlled the spread of the diseases.