‘In 85 percent cases, larvae of dengue mosquitoes was found in houses of patients’

TANUSHREE VENKATRAMAN: A High Court order has asked BMC to evacuate even C2 category buildings that are prone to collapses. Is BMC taking any step in that direction?
It is very difficult to vacate the premises. Residents are not happy with the alternate accommodation they are given. We have given residents in writing that after the building is reconstructed, they will be shifted back. But residents are not ready.

MIHIKA BASU: In the past few months, civic hospitals themselves have become home to mosquitoes, with doctors falling ill. What steps are being taken?
This time it happened in hostels of resident doctors. Dengue mosquitoes breed in houses. We inspect at least 500 surrounding houses from where a dengue patient is found. In 85 per cent cases, dengue mosquitoes’ larvae was found in houses of patients. Personal hygiene has to be taken care of. Mosquito larvae can stay intact for atleast
one year.

TABASSUM BARNAGARWALA: The civic body has successfully brought down the number of malaria cases. What is it that we are doing wrong with dengue?
With malaria, our fogging activities were going in the right direction, whereas in the case of dengue, we cannot come to your house and inspect. Dengue larvae grows in clean water, we have found it in feng shui plants, in petri dishes below the flower pots, defrost trays and
other spots.

ANJALI LUKOSE: Is the administration playing down the number of dengue cases? Every year the numbers brought out by Praja and MCGM differ.
The government of India recognises only confirmed dengue cases. We have been saying that dengue suspect cases have gone up to 9,000, but confirmed dengue cases are only 850. The number of deaths, according to our records are 12 and two are suspected deaths. Unfortunately, in most of the cases, the patients went to the hospitals after a gap of four to five days. We have been advocating that even if people have slight fever, they should not opt for self-medication, but visit a qualified doctor. Medicines like aspirin and Combiflam, which are taken normally, are very dangerous for dengue.

MANASI PHADKE: Is there a way in which public-private partnership model (PPP) can be roped in to expand health services in the city?
Except for providing services in dialysis, our experience with the PPP model in all other areas has not been healthy. For revising the model, we are thinking if one of two members in the trust can be from MCGM. There are hitches in that also, but we are thinking on what models can be worked out.

TANUSHREE VENKATRAMAN: With the fire department, there has always been complaints about the response time, the new fire stations are still in the pipeline. What stage are we in with all the plans?
We are thinking of expanding. 26 new stations will be added in the city. But that is taking time and we do not have that much space. By 2015 end, we are planning to activate eight stations. The rest will follow in the next three to four years. We are also planning to buy a new ladder of 81 metre.

GAUTAM S MENGLE: In any fire incident where police investigation is required, does the fire department submit its inquiries to the police? The frequent statement we hear from the police is that our investigations are done but we are waiting for the fire department to submit its report.
The police department makes its own inquiries and then our department submits a report which they use as evidence in the courts. In many cases, it is not possible for the fire department to submit its report immediately. There is a lot of science involved, it is very difficult to locate the spot where the fire originated. There are various parameters involved. Each case is different, with the Lotus Park fire they took about 15 days to investigate. As far as levying the charges are concerned, it can be done only by the police.

MANASI PHADKE: Is there a plan to digitise the fire department?
We are working on a massive plan to computerise the department. This will include installing GPS chips in all vehicles and system for wireless signals. We will make it compulsory for new buildings to install this system, but that is in the later stages of the project.

TRANSCRIBED BY TANUSHREE VENKATRAMAN & TABASSUM BARNAGARWALA