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Salt Lake Worst Hit But Civic Body Yet To Take Action, Docs Blame Uncertain Monsoon For Outbreak
Sumati Yengkhom TNN
Kolkata: Dengue is swarming the city this season. Doctors agree that it may be the worst outbreak since 2005.
The actual intensity is still being assessed, but the indications are grim. Hospitals on the fringes have admitted scores of dengue patients in the last four weeks but the actual number of victims is many times more because only about 20% cases need hospitalization.
Salt Lake has taken the worst hit, so far. If the number of patients being treated at hospitals in the township and along EM Bypass is any indication, it
is high time for the civic body to press the panic button.
“Forty-six patients have tested positive for dengue in the laboratory attached to our hospital alone in the past four weeks,” said a source at aSalt Lake hospital. Dr Soumitra Dutta, principal consultant (paediatrician) at Columbia Asia Hospitals, said at least 15 children affected with dengue were admitted to the hospital in last week alone.
The sporadic rain pattern this monsoon, accompanied by high humidity, has triggered the comeback of dengue, say dengue.
The advice from doctors is that if you have high fever with severe headache and body pain, don’t ignore it as just another viral fever. It could well be dengue and you should go for a blood test.
Take the case of Ranjeeta Chakrabory. The young home maker from BS block had high fever and body pain for a few days and it was a while before she went to a doctor. A blood test confirmed dengue and she was immediately hospitalized. After five days of treatment, she was discharged on Monday.
“Apart from her, I know of at least five persons in mySalt Lake neighbourhood who have tested positive for dengue in the past few weeks. The muncipality seems to be sleeping over this menace. We have barely come across any mosquito- controlling measures. I have not seen any fogging in the locality in the last two years,” said Ranjeeta’s husband Shantanu Chakraborty.
Accumulation of stagnant water, high humidity, uncleared bushes, piling up of garbage and absence of mosquito management exercises have aggravated the situation, said sources.
“I come across at least one dengue patient every day, having treated about 10 patients per day in the past 10 days in the hospital. If anyone is suffering from fever as high as 103/104 degrees Fahrenheit, along with headache, body pain, dehydration and nausea, it’s best to consult a doctor right away,” said consultant physician (internal medicine) Dr Subhasis Ganguly.
Fever triggered by the dengue virus does not respond to the normal dosage of paracetamol, say doctors. If left untreated, the viral attack could lead to secondary infections affecting organs like the liver, kidney and the heart.
“After the dengue outbreak in 2005, there have been sporadic cases every year. But this year it seems to be higher, particularly in Salt Lake and its vicinity, where I have treated about 15 patients in last three weeks. But the severity of the attack is less than the one in 2005,” said paediatrician Dr Subrata Chakraborty.
“But there is no reason to panic. We have treated about 29 dengue patients in our hospital so far this year. The positive note is that diagnosis through the blood test can be done in two hours and hence the treatment can be started early,” said Dr Rupali Basu, CEO, Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals.
Dr Basabbijay Sarkar, consultant physician of Fortis Hospital, has seen about 14 patients in his Salt Lake clinic in the past month apart from treating an equal number of patients in the hospital. “If we count Day 1 as the onset of dengue, all complications will appear in the next seven to eight days. There is a tendency for the blood platelet to go down in the patient. Timely treatment is very important,” said Dr Sarkar.
Even as health officials tried to project the situation as not alarming, doctors practising in and around the township and hospitals are flooded with dengue patients. Sampurnaa Saha (11), a Class-V student from GC block in Salt Lake, was admitted to Columbia Asia on Wednesday night. “Since there weren’t enough beds, my daughter was in the emergency ward all of Wednesday night. She got a bed only on Thursday,” said the girl’s father Sujay Saha.
“Out of 10 children affected with dengue, only about two need hospitalization, the rest are advised treatment at home. I practise mainly inSalt Lake and my chamber is flooded with dengue suspects, mostly children. I have admitted at least 15 children in the past one week. Therefore, one can well imagine the magnitude of the dengue menace,” said Dr Dutta of Columbia Asia.
Health department spokesperson Dr Asit Biswas said that the they are monitoring the situation closely. “Cases of dengue are being reported from different localities, including Salt Lake. We will soon meet the hospitals and representatives of Bidhanagar municipality,” said Biswas.
50 years on, lack of amenities continues to plague Salt Lake
Suman Chakraborti TNN
Kolkata: It was 50 years ago that then chief minister of Bengal, Bidhan Chandra Roy had laid the foundation stone of the township. Five decades on,Salt Lake still lacks various civic amenities that are essential for the development of a township.
Two years back, Trinamool Congress took over the reins of the Bidhannagar Municipality and made numerous promises. The civic authorities had earlier submitted a list of civic issues, that needed to be looked into, to the state urban development department. Improvement of Kestopur canal, construction of metalled roads, proper disposal of garbage, improvement of parks are some of the issues that find a place in the list.
Though municipality officials claim that steps were being taken, these plans continue to remain on paper.
“We are taking all necessary steps to improve the civic amenities of the township,” said municipality chairperson Krisna Chakraborty.
TOI takes a look at the major issues plaguing the township —
Property tax
It was in 2007 that the Supreme Court had scrapped the township’s property tax structure. Regular collection of property tax has been stopped since then. Civic officials said that a new tax structure will be put in place where self property-assessment forms will be filled by the residents. The welfare association, however, said that no new tax structure could be implemented till the pending court case is solved. “We are ready to cooperate with the civic body on this issue. It should start collecting tax on the basis of the old tax structure to meet up the arrears that are accumulating,” said Kumar Sankar Sadhu, general secretary ofthe Bidhannagar Welfare Association.
The municipality has to also sort out the status of land in Salt Lake vis-a-vis the land in the added areas. Salt Lake is under the state urban development department, while land in the “added areas” is still under the local land and land revenue department. The municipality has to bring all the land under one authority before initiating property assessment.
Illegal transfer and selling of residential plots
According to rules, plots or houses in Salt Lake cannot be sold or transferred since all the plots are leased for 999 years. But, irrespective of all these rules, plots and houses continue to be sold. There are about 12,000 plots in the township, 35% of which has already been transfered or sold illegally. Theurban development department had earlier set up a committee to look into this matter, but the problem could not be sorted. “The problem of residential buildings and plots being sold out is the biggest problem for the township but sadly nothing is being done to check this menace. Several hundred of houses have been sold with the help of the touts,” said BN Chatterjee, secretary of
the Salt Lake Citizens Welfare Society.
Solid waste management
Fifty years since the township came into existence, Salt Lake is yet to have a garbage disposal system in place. The civic authorities had started off with a scientific process of separating different types of waste. But, like all other plans, it was not implemented. The authorities should look for an alternative as the present dumping site, Mollar bheri, is overflowing. “This is one area where the civic authorities have been failing miserably. There has to be a proper waste disposal system in place,” said Sudhir Dey, a senior resident of BA block.
Roads and traffic
The deteriorating condition of roads in Salt Lake needs to be looked into immediately. Chaotic traffic has added to the miseries of the residents. “The important junctions of the township are now witnessing traffic chaos, especially during office hours. Also, cars being parked on both sides of the road add to the problem. Roads are also full of craters and potholes,” said retired DG BP Saha, a resident of the township.
Hoardings and billboards
Key areas like City Centre, Karunamoyee and PNB Island are cluttered with illegal hoardings and billboards. A survey by the civic authorities revealed that out of the 378 hoardings in Salt Lake, 188 are illegal. It has now been decided that illegal hoardings will be pulled down.
Drainage and Sewerage system
Faulty drainage system has been a long standing problem of the township. At many places, the drainage and sewerage lines have got interlinked. According to civic authorities, there is no proper map of the township’s drainage and sewerage masterplan. “We are working to prepare a map of the existing drainage and sewerage system.” said a civic official.
Kestopur canal
Kestopur canal is in a shambles. Though there have been numerous plans to renovate the canal, no initiative has been taken on that front. The previous Left-run government decided to introduce ferry services on the canal, but the project did not succeed.With no cleaning up, the canal has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Developing civic infrastructure in the added areas
Civic authorities have promised to develop the added areas of Mahisbathan, Nayapatti and Duttabad, but there has been no visible change. It was only recently that the urban development department floated a plan to develop Duttabad by setting up flats for the existing dwellers.
Mosquito menace
Mosquitoes have been a problem since the township came into existence. Despite efforts by civic officials, mosquitoes continue to breed in the area. Authorities are now taking help of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and the irrigation department for clean up.
SALT LAKE BLUES
No new property tax structure Illegal transfer of residential plots and houses No system of garbage disposal Illegal hoardings Chaotic traffic and potholed roads Faulty drainage system No renovation plans for Kestopur canal No development in added areas Mosquito menace
