Kamat's visit led to the immediate towing away of abandoned vehicles and another round of fogging.
MARGAO
Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Digambar Kamat’s visit to the dengue-hit South Goa district police headquarters in Margao on Thursday had an immediate impact on the ground, with personnel towing away abandoned and accident-damaged vehicles while health officials carried out another round of fogging at the premises.
Kamat visited the Margao police headquarters on Thursday evening and issued instructions to the authorities, including the Collector, Margao Municipal Council and Health Department, to undertake a thorough cleanup of the premises and remove abandoned two-wheelers.
The Minister held a meeting with Additional Collector Srinet Kothwale, Margao Sub-Divisional Police Officer, SP Sidhant Shirodkar, Margao Urban Health Officer Dr Baptista Fernandes, Deputy Collector Ganesh Bharve and Margao Municipal engineer Manoj Arsekar to review the dengue situation at the police headquarters.
Kamat was informed by the Health Department that teams from Margao and Panaji had carried out fogging at the police station premises and the adjoining Loyola school campus as a precautionary measure.
The Minister, however, stressed the need to remove the abandoned and accident-damaged vehicles lying within the police station premises, which could potentially serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Speaking to the media later, Kamat said an impression had gained ground in recent days that there was an outbreak of dengue at the Margao police station.
“I have come personally to assess the situation by taking a review with the officials. I have been told that five policemen were infected with dengue. But we cannot yet identify the source, whether the policemen were infected at the police station, at their residences or somewhere else,” he said.
Kamat said the Health Department had already taken precautionary measures at the police station by carrying out fogging and anti-larval activities.
He added that the Health Department and Margao Municipal Council would conduct a joint cleanliness drive at the police station premises on Friday.
“I have issued instructions to the Collector to tow away the abandoned and accident vehicles from the Margao police station premises. They are exploring the possibility of shifting the vehicles to Sonsodo,” he said.
