Dengue will raise its ugly head

By Kusal Chamath   

Residents of Panadura and Moratuwa areas expressed concern about the possible breakout of Dengue fever due to the neglected land covered with shrubs and dilapidated side drains filled with stagnant water, and concrete slabs in incomplete buildings creating mosquito breeding grounds.   

Public Health Inspectors in Panadura area have not paid any attention on buildings under construction with concrete slabs exposed to rain creating mosquito breeding grounds. Several of them are found in the Wanduramulla area.   

Residents of the area said they were living in constant fear of any possible spread of the terminal disease that would raise its ugly head again after the outbreak of monsoon rain. They stressed the need to take legal action against the owners of neglected land and partly built houses with concrete slabs, creating mosquito breeding grounds.   

Meanwhile side drains without concrete covers in main roads and by-roads in Panadura and Moratuwa areas, obstructed with sand and garbage, prevented the free flow of storm water and turned into mosquito breeding grounds.   

The public pointed out that the side drains filled with waste water flowing from houses and business establishments and the abandoned land covered with shrub jungle, used as dumping grounds by the people living in the vicinity had created serious health hazards.   

They requested the health authorities to pay attention on partly built houses with concrete slabs filled with storm water and the abandoned land covered with shrub jungle and to take legal action against the owners.   

However, Public Health Inspectors in the area said the public did not cooperate with them to identify the owners who were living in other areas and that it prevented them from taking legal action.