Mangalore : As many as 121 buildings under construction may face action in the form of cancellation of license if they do not take anti-malarial measures immediately. The decision came in the wake of the Town Planning Office of Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) identifying 121 under construction building sites turning into potential malaria breeding sites.

Mayor Mahabala Marla said at a meeting on malaria prevention held at MCC council hall here on Monday that the cancellation of license would be the right action to make builders accountable. “They need MCC’s license to construct building and how will they continue the work if we cancel it. Let us wait for their reply for the show cause notices issued before initiating action against them,” the Mayor said.

Physician Srinivas Kakkillaya, who is actively involved in the anti-malaria drives in the city for several years, said that the town planning section of the city corporation should be held responsible for the lapse.

Social activist Suresh Shetty expressed concern over the lack of proper mechanism to gather information from private hospitals with regard to the instances of malaria. It was brought to the notice of the meet that only 35 out of 88 hospitals in the city report malaria instances on real time basis. Shetty said that action should be taken against hospitals, which do not report malaria cases immediately.
The number of malaria cases reported in the city during January and June in 2011 was 1,945 and it increased to 3,766 in 2014.

Pediatrician Shantharam Baliga said that the city corporation needs to adopt technology for transfer of information regarding malaria using gadgets.

The Mayor said that the corporation has sent request letters to all private hospitals seeking their cooperation. “We have requested hospitals in writing and I have made personal request too. However, only 35 hospitals have responded within one month,” he said.
District health and family welfare officer HS Shivakumar said that directions have been given to all the hospitals across the district. TOI