the goan I network
MARGAO
The residents claimed that as many as four cases of suspected dengue cases have come to light in the ward and demanded to know from sarpanch Sharon Quadros and panchayat official whether the panchayat would act only after more cases of dengue are reported from the ward.
A resident Carlos Vaz maintained that the Panchayat has failed to clean up the drains in Firgulem ward for reasons best known to the Panchayat body. “Let them show how many times they have cleaned up the drains in Firgulem. Today, the inaction by the panchayat body has affected four persons with dengue, including children. The drains were cleaned once upon the intervention of Local MLA and Fisheries Minister, Avertano Furtado”, he said.
Siddesh Bhagat said that though the Panchayat’s attention was drawn to the outbreak of the dengue at Firgures, no immediate steps were initiated by the Panchayat body to clean up the drains, resulting in more dengue cases coming to light in the ward.
Bhagat and the residents have now threatened to sit on a dharna near the Panchayat ghar if no action is initiated on the drains immediately.
Sarpanch Sharon Quadros later told the media that the health authorities had carried out fogging in the affected area of the ward after the detection of the first case. Drain clearing will commence soon, she assured.
