Civic authorities have started proceedings against managers and contractors at Wankhede Stadium,being redone for the 2011 World Cup,the neighbouring Bombay Hockey Association and two privately owned buildings in Churchgate for allowing the malaria parasite to breed. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had sent them notices for having contributed to the breeding of the mosquito by allowing water to stagnate. They are now being charged with non-compliance with a directive to clean overhead and other tanks. Mumbai and Thane account for the most malaria cases in the state every year; Churchgate,in particular,reported 100 cases in August. Across Churchgate,57 notices have been served on premises that have become breeding grounds due to leakages,unclean overhead tanks and articles on terraces. Of the four premises facing prosecution,a housing society was sent a summons after Insecticide Department officials found larvae breeding in the swimming pool,itself an unauthorised construction. The water tanks at Bombay Hockey Association hold stagnant water,while at Wankhede,larvae were found breeding at the suction and masonry tanks We had given them a weeks time to rectify and make the tanks and premises mosquito-proof. They failed to comply and prosecution has been launched, said a civic official. Cases have been filed in the metropolitan court under Section 381 of the BMC Act,under which the penalty is between Rs 1,500 and Rs 5,000. If corrective measures are still not taken,there can be a daily fine with possible imprisonment up to 45 days. BHA president Manga Singh Bakshi said they were aware of any such notice and insisted they have taken corrective measures. The insecticide department has begun thermal fumigation on these premises and expects residents to contribute to such measures. All articles and water collection on terraces should be removed and emptied from the terraces so that mosquito breeding grounds are destroyed, said chief insecticide officer,Deepak Adsul. Since January this year,904 cases have been filed across the city and Rs 32.68 lakh imposed as fine. Andheri and Juhu have the highest number of prosecutions and largest fines,with K/West accounting for 157 cases and Rs 5.38 lakh,followed by K/East (45 cases,Rs 5.37 lakh) and Byculla and Parel area,E ward (102 cases,Rs 2.44 lakh).
