Nagpur: The Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court slammed the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and State Public Works Department (PWD) on Wednesday, for failure to control the dengue outbreak in Nagpur.
The court’s criticism came in response to a petition filed by lawyer Tejal Agre, who highlighted the authorities’ failure to control the spread of dengue and chikungunya. Agre cited a media report revealing that heavy monsoon rains had led to widespread waterlogging, creating ideal breeding grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes. The lawyer noted an alarming spike in dengue cases, with 39 reported in just 25 days.
NMC counsel Sudhir Puranik attempted to counter Agre’s claims, arguing that media reports alone were insufficient evidence. However, the division bench, comprising Justices Nitin Sambre and Abhay Mantri, remained unconvinced and directed Agre to submit a comprehensive affidavit detailing her contentions within a week.
The court also addressed a related Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by residents of Poonam Pride Condominium, which was clubbed with Agre’s petition. The PIL, originally filed in 2014, raised concerns about the cleaning of the Sanchayani complex at Khamla Square. Petitioners lamented that despite a decade passing since the filing, little had changed on the ground. They pointed out that water and garbage had once again accumulated in the basement of the abandoned complex, creating a breeding haven for mosquitoes.
In response, the NMC counsel informed the court that the Sanchayani complex case was pending in the Calcutta High Court and that the civic body had begun removing stagnant water from the basement.
The judges criticized the failure to remove debris from development sites and the lack of contractor accountability, which they said contributed to unsanitary conditions fostering the spread of dengue.
The media report published recently highlighted a troubling trend as it stated Nagpur is experiencing a higher number of chikungunya cases compared to dengue. Of 304 tested cases this year, 38 were positive for dengue and 88 for chikungunya. Health experts attribute the rise in chikungunya to stagnant water, which serves as a breeding ground for mosquitoes, increased by high humidity and the continued use of water coolers without proper maintenance.
