Pune recorded 662 dengue cases in September, more than six times the June figure, prompting the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to intensify inspections and begin action against more than 600 construction sites where stagnant water may be enabling mosquito breeding.
The PMC health department has handed a list of non-cooperative construction sites to the civic building department. Builders and other establishments may face penalties if they fail to implement preventive measures or remove conditions that allow mosquitoes to breed. The action brings construction activity into sharper focus as a public-health concern in a city experiencing rapid development.
PMC inspections in September covered 2,26,705 residences and business properties. Officials checked 3,98,930 containers and found 3,348 that were conducive to mosquito breeding. Breeding conditions were detected in 2,412 houses, while the civic body issued 402 notices and recovered fines totalling Rs 1,45,500.
The Dhankawadi-Sahakarnagar ward office recorded the highest numbers in the PMC’s inspection data, with 599 affected houses and 724 contaminated containers. Kondhwa-Yewalewadi reported 417 such containers, while Kothrud recorded 395. The areas are among those where construction and redevelopment activity is contributing to the volume of sites that need monitoring.
According to PMC assistant health officer Rajesh Dighe, dengue cases have been reported at various locations in Kothrud and inspections and preventive measures are being undertaken in affected areas. Additional Municipal Commissioner Pawneet Kaur has also held a coordination meeting with different civic departments and directed them to take steps to prevent mosquito breeding.
Construction sites can create breeding conditions when water is stored for curing concrete slabs or remains stagnant for extended periods. The civic process begins with a notice to the establishment where mosquito breeding is detected. If the condition is not corrected, the department can remove the breeding site and impose a penalty. The PMC has separately prepared a list of construction establishments that have refused to pay charges, with further action to be initiated through the building department.
The increase in reported dengue cases has been consistent over the four-month period covered by the PMC data. Pune recorded 103 cases in June, 366 in July, 512 in August and 662 in September. In response, the health department carried out fogging at 27,759 houses and insecticide spraying at 53,212 houses during September.
The civic body has directed departments to prevent water accumulation in warehouses, pipelines and objects left in the open. It has also appealed to residents to remove standing water from old tyres, paint cans, empty containers, coolers, refrigerators and air-conditioning systems. The immediate next steps will involve enforcement against the listed construction establishments and continued inspections, preventive treatment and inter-departmental coordination across affected wards.
