New Delhi, Aug 18 (IANS) Concerned over the rising number of dengue and swine flu cases, Leader of Opposition in the Delhi assembly V.K. Malhotra Wednesday said efforts should be stepped up and more money pumped in to tackle the diseases.
He lambasted the Delhi government, accusing it of neglecting the issue.
Raising the issue in the assembly, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said: ‘Last November, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had warned the Delhi government that the cases of dengue will rise in 2010.’
‘Despite the warning, the government kept sleeping and did nothing,’ he added.
Malhotra said foreigners who will visit for the Commonwealth Games are cautious of just two things — security and dengue.
‘When we can spend so much money on building infrastructure for the Games, why can’t we pump in more money to tackle the disease,’ he asked.
‘The matter should be taken urgently and the Delhi government should step up efforts in view of the Games,’ the BJP leader said.
Dengue has claimed one life while 277 people have tested positive this year. Fifteen people have died of swine flu and 362 have tested positive for influenza H1N1 in the city so far.
