Pune: PMC standing committee on Thursday directed the civic health department and all 15 ward offices to conduct daily spraying and fogging drives at vulnerable locations amid fears of a rise in dengue and chikungunya cases.Standing committee chairperson Shrinath Bhimale also instructed health inspectors to visit housing societies and open plots to ensure that stagnant water, a key mosquito-breeding source, was promptly eliminated. He further told Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to expedite the appointment of 265 workers on contract to strengthen mosquito-control measures across the city.The directive comes as several corporators demanded intensified fogging and spraying drives, citing a growing number of complaints from residents about fever and other health-related issues. Mahesh Pokale, an activist from the Sinhagad Road area who recently submitted a representation to the local ward office, said PMC must go beyond spraying activities and launch awareness campaigns. “Citizens should be encouraged to seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms of dengue or chikungunya,” he said.Corporator Vaishali Banakar from Hadapsar flagged irregularities in spraying operations and urged PMC to prioritise repairs of damaged drainage lines. “Contaminated drain water mixing with potable water is a serious concern. PMC must address this issue on priority,” she said, adding that continuous rainfall and fluctuating temperatures in Aug contributed to a spike in cases.PMC officials said they already filled 150 permanent posts dedicated to mosquito-control work. The proposal to recruit an additional 265 contractual employees, however, remains pending. Bhimale said he has sought an explanation from officials for the delay.According to PMC data, the civic body has issued 1,708 notices and collected Rs 2.65 lakh in fine this year after detecting mosquito-breeding sites.
