Kolkata, Sept. 8 -- State Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Agnimitra Paul on Tuesday said the dengue situation in West Bengal had improved, while participating in an anti-dengue and cleanliness drive.
Paul said the state government had adopted a "zero-target" initiative aimed at ensuring that no area in the state reported dengue cases. "We have started the Swachha app and a cleanliness drive and have also started imposing fines. Awareness drives are being carried out. We are conducting the Swachha drive from September 8-10. People have become aware. Dengue cases have also gone down and the situation has improved," she said.
"Surveillance is being carried out at old buildings and buildings under construction. We still believe that imposing fines is not our intention. People should be aware of the cleanliness drive," the minister added.
Paul urged residents to clean their neighbourhoods and remove items that could collect rainwater. She advised people with fever lasting more than two days to undergo a dengue test immediately and warned owners of vacant or unhygienic plots that they could face heavy fines if their land became a mosquito-breeding ground.
The number of dengue cases in the state has reached nearly 4,000, according to officials.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.