Struggling to cope with the huge inflow of malaria patients at its hospitals, the BMC has decided to set up two gigantic makeshift “health facilities” outside KEM and Sion hospitals.

“The temporary pandals–each having an area of 5,000 sq ft–will be equipped with modern healthcare facilities. Here, we will treat those who couldn’t be admitted to the (civic) hospitals. Each tent can accommodate 200 patients,”said a civic official.

These ‘booths’ will be constructed by city’s biggest pandal contractor, R M Bhattad, who has volunteered to foot the bill for the next one month. “Steel pipes will be used to erect the pandals. Offices for doctors will be created using plywood partitions. If the BMC wants, we can provide two more pandals at other major hospitals,”said Bhattad, who is also a representative of the Property Owners’ Association (POA).

A meeting of architects, developers and property owners was called on Tuesday at the civic HQ. They were told of the immediate steps to be taken at the 2,400–odd under–construction sites to maintain hygiene and cleanliness.

“We have decided to volunteer to keep a check on the menace. Strict guidelines have been issued to all the members to maintain hygiene at their sites,”said Sunil Mantri of Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry (MCHI), which has nearly 550 members in Mumbai. The bodies–MCHI, POA and Practising Engineers, Architects and Town Planners’ Association (PEATA)–promised to provided the corporation 20,000 mosquito nets free of cost. “These will be distributed at construction sites and other slum areas,”said a senior BMC official.