Thiruvananthapuram: The Cash-strapped Irrigation Department and PWD can breathe easy, as Thiruvananthapuram Corporation has decided to set aside Rs 1 lakh for each ward for fever-related activities. Earlier only Rs 35,000 was set aside for each ward, and the Corporation was waiting for permission from the state government to set aside more funds. Health Standing Committee Chairperson K Sreekumar said that the money from the ‘plan fund’ could even be used to clean PWD drains and Irrigation canals. He said that if needed, the Corporation would be ready to spend its ‘own fund’.
Mayor V.K. Prasanth said that when the ward-level sanitation committees held meetings, councillors should ensure that Irrigation AE of the area should be part of those meetings. Councillors have been complaining of drainages and canals, which do not come under the Corporation, being clogged and becoming breeding grounds for mosquitoes. However at the special council meeting some like Town Planning Standing Committee Chairman R Satheeshkumar questioned whether the Corporation should spend money on activities which should have been carried out by other departments. Many councillors complained of defunct vector control machines.
Kesavadasapuram councillor Stephy George said that the only fogging machine in Nanthancode circle was not working. After sharing about a recent dengue death of a young college student in her ward, she said that there would be more fatalities if measures fell short. There was just one earth mover to serve the entire Corporation and all 100 wards needed to wait for their turn, according to Beemapally councillor Rasheed. Kudappanakkunnu ward councillor Anitha S said that their health circle did not have a health inspector.
