After SC rap, LG, Delhi ministers again meet over vector-borne

Following a fresh Supreme Court directive, Lt Governor Najeeb Jung today chaired a meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Health Minister Satyendar Jain to chalk out an action plan to fight the vector-borne disease in Delhi.

The LG's office said the detailed plan discussed at today's meeting on dealing with the vector-borne diseases will be submitted to the apex court during the next hearing on October 17.

Earlier in the day, the top court had expressed disappointment over the outcome of yesterday's meeting between Jung and Delhi government, which it had earlier directed, and asked them to hold another meeting this evening to firm up steps to check them.
 

In the order, the court said authorities were "not interested" and the people have been "left to suffer".

In accordance with the court's order, Jung held the meeting at the LG Secretariat at 5:30 PM where senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, who is an amicus curiae in the matter, was also present.

Gonsalves also expressed his views on how to tackle the menace of these vector-borne diseases.

"The suggestions made by learned Amicus Curiae Colin Gonsalves were taken up for discussion and largely agreed upon by all present.

"It has been decided that an action plan shall be drawn out based on discussions held and placed before the Supreme Court," LG office said in a statement after the meeting.

However, the LG office did not divulge the action plan, which, it said, was "discussed thoroughly".

Sources said point-to-point discussions on how to prevent spread of vector-born diseases in the national capital were made in the meeting.

They also said a future action plan was chalked out so that these diseases do not recur.

Officers from different departments including Health, MCDs, Railways, DMRC, Delhi Cantonment Board apprised Amicus Curiae Colin Gonsalves of steps taken by them to prevent the spread of dengue and chikungunya.

Criticising the authorities over their handling of dengue and chikungunya menace in morning, the apex court said, "We expect the participants (of meeting at LG Secretariat) to keep the interest of people of Delhi in mind while doing the entire exercise.