The National Green Tribunal has directed the Delhi Transport Corporation to form a task force to tackle the problem of breeding mosquitoes in abandoned buses leading to a rise in dengue and chikungunya. A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar asked the DTC to set up the special team and take “appropriate steps” within a week.
“We direct the general manager of the DTC to take immediate steps to cover the buses and fumigate them and also ensure that the water which is inside or under the buses is removed forthwith,” it said. Dysfunctional buses lying at DTC depots in Indraprastha, Rohini, Keshopur and elsewhere were a breeding ground for mosquitoes, said the Tribunal. During the rains, water fills up in the buses which lead to mosquito breeding, the bench had said earlier.
The NGT had earlier said that vector-borne diseases such as dengue and chikungunya had started spreading in the city and necessary steps have not been taken to check the problem.
The bench had then appointed 12 local commissioners to inspect different spots in the city under each municipal corporation and report to it about the problems on the ground. Slamming the Delhi government for making “unbelievable” claims regarding steps taken to tackle the problem, it had said the right to a clean and decent environment and public health was a fundamental right and financial limitations should not come in the way of providing good health and environment to the people.
