Anti-dengue campaign: Larvae detected at just one site

558 sites inspected, 33 tyre stores and warehouses sealed in three weeks.

LAHORE:

The Environmental Protection Department concluded its three-week anti-dengue campaign on Thursday after inspecting 558 sites and sealing 33 tyre stores or warehouses.

EPD Secretary Saeed Wahla said that dengue mosquito larvae had been detected at only one site, with the rest sealed because they had not disposed of stagnant water or left uncovered pots or tyres out in the open. Several sites were also issued notices warning them to take precautionary measures.

Thirty-three tyre stores were sealed and 214 were issued notices under the Punjab Local Government Ordinance (PLGO). Four squads of the EPA inspected 384 tyre stores, 104 scrap yards, 33 nurseries and 37 under-construction sites over the three-week campaign.

EPD Secretary Wahla said that regulations had been drawn up last year whereby licences were issued to tyre shops and scrap yards that had taken precautionary measures and where no dengue larvae had been detected.

He said the four EPD squads, each consisting of five people, would resume inspections in the rainy season.

District Officer (Environment) Tariq Zaman said although no larvae had been detected, it was important to continue checking construction sites and tyre shops.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2012.