Chennai: With dengue creating havoc in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has asked district and local administration to launch cleanliness drive to prevent spread of the dreaded disease that has so far claimed 40 lives across the state.
At a review meeting on Wednesday evening, Palaniswami said the government will undertake a 15-day cleanliness drive in the state and warned of action against owners whose unclean premises could lead to mass breeding of mosquitoes spreading the disease. Also the corporation commissioner warned of imposing of Rs 2,000 fine on violaters.
An official release issued on Thursday said the cleanliness drive will cover all parts of the state, with special focus on urban areas and on cleaning areas which have the possibility of water stagnation.
Palaniswami said the drive would focus on cleaning areas, which have the possibility of water stagnation. Clearing waste and construction debris was also in the agenda, it said.
The release also said special teams have to be formed for the cleaning drive and they will have to send regular reports to the respective district collectors on the action taken, the release said.
The meeting also decided to intensify mass cleaning activities across the state to clear garbage from neighbourhood and other areas by roping in activists and common man to ensure that mosquito breeding is reduced. Focus was also laid on reducing breeding of mosquitoes at the source especially in water storage tanks and in residential areas.
“A team headed by the collectors will monitor the activities, and conservancy staff and workers covered under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act will be deployed for the clearing work. Action has to be expedited covering educational institutions, government and private premises, areas of construction activities among others,” the release said.
So far, more than 40 people have succumbed to dengue across the state and the state government has shored up efforts to reduce incidence of the disease by creating awareness among the people.
The state government has been under attack from Opposition parties for failing to control spread of dengue as several thousand people have been admitted in hospitals across the state.
