MC sits tight as tyres lie unmoved at market

While the health department is conducting drives to check presence of dengue causing mosquitoes across the district, shopkeepers at the Tyre market near city railway station are least bothered about tyres lying on their rooftops. These tyres can become breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Moreover, the district health department has declared the Tyre market as a highly-sensitive area, but the municipal corporation (MC) has failed to take action.

With this insensitive attitude of the MC, these tyres are posing a constant threat to the lives of residents.

Environment activist Jagjeet Singh Mann said, “The MC should conduct inspection in highly-sensitive areas to prevent the disease. I think the shopkeepers at this market are also aware that these tyres lying in open are inviting dengue. The rain water generally gets collected in them. MC officials should take strict action before the start of monsoon.”

District epidemiologist Dr Anil Verma said, “We will conduct a meeting with MC officials on June 20. It will be our agenda that MC should start issuing challans to the building owners, from where mosquito larvas are found.”

“We will talk to the MC officials to take action against the shopkeepers of the Tyre market, as these tyres lying in open are most common source of breeding of mosquitoes. We have found larvae in these tyres several times in the past,” he said.

“The MC should ensure that the tyres are covered or removed from the rooftops and open places,” Verma said.

When contacted, chief of health wing, MC, Amarjit Singh Sekhon, said, “We will send our team to the Tyre market to conduct checking and will take the required action. We will also start issuing challans to the persons responsible if any larvae are found.”