VASCO/PANJIM: Eleven children from Regina Mundi High School in Chicalim tested positive for dengue as the area around the school has turned into a breeding ground for mosquitoes, thanks to a construction coming up in the vicinity of the school.
Local Health Officer Dr Rashmi Khandeparkar, confirming the dengue cases, said that fogging has been undertaken in the school surroundings, and also at the construction site. She said the department is identifying more such sites, and necessary precautions have been taken.
Sources confirmed that the contractor at the site left debris in the area and also left open barrels of water and other construction materials, thus creating an environment for mosquito breeding.
One local Ganesh Lamani said that students from the school are suffering from dengue because of the construction, which is going on in the vicinity. “In Chicalim, large scale constructions are coming up without proper measures in place. The Health Department has also failed to undertake necessary fogging at the sites thus converting them into mosquito breeding places. Panchayat is also paying a blind eye to the situation,” he said.
Dabolim Sarpanch Sebastian Pereira confirmed that there were a lot of dengue incidents and it was due to construction works. “The panchayat has been carrying out fogging regularly but the new constructions coming up are not following instructions,” he said.
Pereira said that on Friday they conducted a surprise inspection of the construction opposite Regina Mundi School and found water logging. “We have warned the builder that if this continues we will revoke the construction licence. We have also instructed them to continue fogging regularly and spraying for mosquitoes,” he said. He added that the panchayat is seized with the issue as it is concerning children.
Efforts to contact school principal and local MLA Mauvin Godinho proved futile.
