Kolkata’s Dengue Battle Intensifies as 68 Wards Identified as High-Risk. Kolkata’s fight against dengue has gained urgency as the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) identifies 68 out of its 144 wards as vulnerable to the mosquito-borne disease. With nearly half the city at heightened risk, the civic body has launched an aggressive preventive campaign to curb potential outbreaks ahead of the monsoon season. The city’s past struggles with dengue, which saw a staggering 13,926 cases in 2023, have prompted authorities to act preemptively, even as reported cases dropped to 1,316 in early 2024.
Aiming to mitigate mosquito breeding, KMC has set a June deadline to clear plastic waste, thermocol, and other non-biodegradable materials from vacant plots and waterbody peripheries in the high-risk zones. Vector control workers have intensified door-to-door inspections, raising awareness through public campaigns, loudspeaker announcements, and distribution of informative leaflets. Deputy Mayor Atin Ghosh, who oversees the civic body’s health wing, stressed that a proactive approach is crucial to preventing an upsurge in cases, particularly in vulnerable areas such as Ward 2, Ward 14, and those spanning from Ward 65 to Ward 129.
Enforcement measures have also been ramped up, with KMC issuing 733 notices within the first two months of 2024 to property owners failing to maintain hygiene in their premises. Under Section 496A of the Kolkata Municipal Act, 951 defaulters have been served legal notices, and three cases have been initiated against those ignoring official directives. The corporation’s health department is adopting a multi-tier strategy that involves not just regulatory actions but also on-ground interventions, such as deploying 32 rapid action teams to detect and eliminate mosquito breeding hotspots across schools, hospitals, construction sites, and public offices.
Dengue prevention efforts have been further amplified through visual messaging, with 1,700 awareness hoardings strategically placed at major city junctions and 10,336 sunpack boards being installed across all wards. Additionally, borough-level health meetings will commence from March 26, prioritising dengue containment strategies across all 16 administrative zones. While the KMC’s early intervention measures have been credited for the declining dengue numbers in 2024, officials remain cautious, emphasising that sustained public cooperation and meticulous waste management will be key to ensuring that the city does not witness a repeat of past outbreaks.
