Dengue menace: Court orders emergency task force

BANGALORE: The state government must take some short term measures to address the outbreak of dengue and other diseases.

This was Karnataka High Court's direction to the state government in a public interest litigation (PIL).

The court also asked the state government to set up an emergency action committee and a rapid action team to tackle the outbreak of dengue and chikungunya in the state.

The PIL was file by Chandrakala Manjunath.

Hearing the petition, the division bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice Manjula Chellur directed the state to take short term measures, as suggested by the petitioner, to address outbreak.

The state’s plan will take time to eradicate the disease, so it can adopt suggestions made by the petitioner, said the court.

It also directed the government's counsel to furnish details regarding the spread of the diseases and the preventive steps taken to the petitioner every week.

The petitioner can avail the information from the director of the Department of Health and Family Welfare, the court said.

The bench told the state government that officers should be appointed, a district- wise report made and information furnished to the petitioner’s advocate.

If the government failed to provide these details, the petitioner is at liberty to approach the court, the bench said.

The petitioner filed a rejoinder to the objections of the state government stating that the long-term measures suggested by the state government will not be effective in controlling the spread of the diseases.

The petitioner said hundreds of patients suffering from dengue and chikungunya may die, if the state did not take immediate steps to prevent the diseases.