Times of India
30 June 2010

Attendance going down in offices and schools? Blame it on malaria, which has gripped the city and suburbs. According to the BMC statistics, 3,816 malaria cases were reported in civic hospitals in June alone. If we consider those taking treatment from general practitioners, the number would rise significantly.

According to a BMC report (Mumbai Mirror has the copy), 582 suspected malaria cases were registered in G/South ward (Worli), of which 76 were the dangerous plasmodium falciparum malaria.

The BMC has identified Worli, Parel, Dadar, Prabhadevi, Matunga, Mankhurd, Kurla, Bandra, Khar and Santacruz as malaria–vulnerable areas.Former health committee chairman and corporator from Worli, Parshuram Desai, blamed the rising malaria cases on construction. He said, "Builders don’t bother to ensure that water doesn’t accumulate at construction sites. These puddles breed mosquitoes. Also, dug–up roads are filled with water, breeding mosquitoes."

In G/South, there are around 87 locations where high–rise towers are coming up. Labourers at construction sites stay there in the most unhygienic conditions, thus further spreading malaria.

Dr Arun Bamne, chief insecticide officer, blamed the situation on the builders, saying the BMC received "poor response" from them. He said, "We are in the process of issuing stop work notices to developers who have failed to carry out fogging. Soon, the situation will be under control."