BHAWANIPATNA: Even as the dengue situation in Kalahandi has been deteriorating, sanitation measures in the district are in a shambles. The worst hit are the Kesinga and Junagarh NACs and the areas under Bhawanipatna Municipality where the civic officialsare yet to wake up to the situation.From 54 blood samples tested for dengue in the district, 22 have been found positive and all the cases are from Kesinga NAC. However, no sanitation work is being taken up in this area on a regular basis. While drains have not been cleared for several days, they have turned into breeding grounds for mosquitoes. The situation is similar in areas under Bhawanipatna Municipality. At Bhawanipatna, activists of Kalahandi Nirman Sena took out a rally and staged a road blockade on Monday alleging inaction by the Municipality in taking dengue control measures.On the other hand, though the Health Department has been active in controlling the disease in all the affected areas, staff crunch seems to be the biggest hindrance to cope with the situation. The Health Department is handicapped with a large number of vacancies of doctors and para-medical staff. Against the sanctioned 176 posts, there are only 128 doctors. Nineteen of them are remaining absent, three had recently resigned and 10 have gone on study leave. Thus, there are just 98 doctors available. Collector Dukhisham Satpathy said the administration had taken note of all the loopholes and efforts would be initiated to take up the sanitation drive and fill up the vacancies at the earliest.
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