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The Print
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
MCD rolls out property tax amnesty scheme; announces removal of garbage collection charges
Under the 'Sumpattikar Niptaan Yojana' (SUNIYO), people will be able to pay the principal amount of property tax of the current year (2025-26) and the previous five years (2020-21 onwards) in one go and all their previous dues (before 2020-21), including interest and penalty will stand waived off, the municipal corporation said. During a House meeting, a discussion on vector-borne diseases was also taken up for the first time in the last 2.5 years. The civic body said it has ramped up measures to prevent outbreaks of dengue, malaria, and chikungunya. New Delhi, May 21 (PTI) The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Wednesday announced the rollout of a one-time property tax amnesty scheme for the financial year 2025-26. The MCD also noted that a similar one-time measure launched in 2022-23, the SAMRIDDHI scheme, also allowed full waiver of old arrears if the taxpayer paid recent dues i.e. dues of five years for residential and six years for non-residential properties. The SUNIYO scheme will apply to all types of properties falling under the jurisdiction of the MCD. In his first General House meeting after taking over as Delhi Mayor, Raja Iqbal Singh on Wednesday also announced, through a private member resolution, the removal of 'user charges' linked to garbage collection from the property tax. The introduction of the user charge, which is currently being levied along with annual property tax, has been opposed by both opposition AAP, the ruling BJP and residents' groups. However, the House proceedings were disrupted when AAP councillors questioned the mayor for not declaring a Leader of the House (LoH). Former AAP mayor Mahesh Kumar and Leader of Opposition Ankush Narang of AAP also raised slogans in the House. In response, Singh, who was elected Mayor last month, announced BJP's Satya Sharma as the new Leader of the House. Previously, under the AAP-led MCD, Mukesh Goel was the LoH. Goel has since quit the AAP and is among the 16 councillors of the opposition party who announced the formation of Indraprastha Vikas Party (IVP), citing alleged neglect and non-performance within the civic body. Meanwhile, during the discussion on dengue, it was stated that with the monsoon approaching, the civic body has ramped up its measures to prevent outbreaks of dengue, malaria, and chikungunya, and waterborne diseases across the national capital. In a written response to a question raised by councillor Yogesh Verma during the ordinary May meeting of the MCD, the civic body outlined a multi-pronged action plan being implemented through its concerned departments. As part of its preventive strategy, the MCD has carried out fogging and spraying operations in 3,19,137 households, focusing on sensitive and high-risk areas, it said. A significant stockpile of insecticides and chemicals, including 40,028 kg of Temephos granules, 8,496 kg of Alphacypermethrin, and 14,158 litres of mosquito larvicidal oil (MLO), has been maintained to support the operations. Additionally, 13,000 bottles of 100 ml liquid chlorine are currently available, with 69,000 more bottles to be procured soon. To bolster community awareness, an intensified IEC (information, education and communication) campaign is underway using leaflets, banners, bulk SMS, radio broadcasts, and free hoardings. Water quality samples are also being regularly taken in sensitive locations, while oral rehydration salts (ORS) and chlorine are being distributed in vulnerable areas. Field staff are actively visiting homes to educate residents about the importance of not allowing clean water to accumulate in coolers, pots, and overhead tanks, which can become breeding grounds for mosquitoes, the civic body said. The MCD is also working with residents' welfare associations (RWAs) to promote safe water storage practices. In terms of medical preparedness, Hindu Rao Hospital, Swami Dayanand Hospital, and Kasturba Hospital have been declared sentinel surveillance hospitals. Beds have been reserved for dengue, malaria, and chikungunya cases, with provisions to increase capacity if needed. These facilities are provided with essential medicines, IV fluids, ORS, and platelets, and have 24×7 access to diagnostic and treatment services. The MCD has also begun setting up fever clinics in its dispensaries and hospitals to ensure early diagnosis and treatment. A dedicated workforce is engaged in anti-larval operations, indoor residual spraying, and disease surveillance. The civic body has flagged Civil Lines, Urban Sadar, Pahar Ganj, and Shahdara (North) as high-risk zones for the spread of vector-borne and waterborne illnesses, and is maintaining heightened vigilance in these areas. PTI NSM KVK KVK This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Times of Oman
10-04-2025
- Health
- Times of Oman
WHO races to contain dengue threat in quake-hit Myanmar
Mandalay: In the wake of Myanmar's devastating earthquake, thousands of displaced families now face an escalating health crisis, as the threat of dengue outbreaks rises sharply across makeshift camps, an official press release by the World Health Organisation (WHO) stated. The WHO, in coordination with local health authorities, has stepped in to launch an urgent prevention and control effort in some of the country's hardest-hit regions. "We lost everything in the earthquake--then my daughter got sick with high fever," said Daw Nandar, cradling her 8-year-old daughter under the plastic sheet they now call home in Mandalay. "At first, we thought her fever was just from the stress and heat--after all we'd been through. But days passed, and it only got worse. We had no money for treatment, no clinic nearby, nowhere to turn. Luckily, the health workers arrived and tested her right away. Because of them, my daughter received all the care she needed. She is recovering faster now." Her voice echoes the experience of many in Sagaing, Mandalay, and Nay Pyi Taw--regions that not only suffered structural damage in the earthquake but are now grappling with fragile shelter conditions, stagnant water, and increased mosquito exposure. These compounding factors create ideal conditions for the rapid spread of dengue, a disease particularly dangerous for children and pregnant women. To avert a secondary public health emergency, WHO is deploying 4,500 rapid diagnostic test kits to frontline responders and health workers. These will be used in displacement sites and remote villages to ensure dengue cases are detected and treated early. In addition, 500 tent nets are being distributed to protect children and infants from mosquito bites. A shipment of 6.2 tons of Temephos is also being used for targeted larviciding in areas identified as high-risk mosquito breeding grounds. "We cannot wait for dengue to become the next disaster," said Elena Vuolo, Deputy Head of WHO Country Office Myanmar. "This intervention is not just about vector control. It's about protecting lives, preventing further suffering, and making sure recovery is built on resilience. If we don't act now, a dengue outbreak will follow soon in these open-air living conditions. The most important part of this initiative is that we are targeting our support to those who would otherwise be left behind." This dengue prevention push is a crucial part of WHO's broader emergency health response, which includes treating earthquake-related injuries and preventing disease outbreaks in overcrowded camps. The challenge is compounded by the oncoming monsoon season, which could drastically increase mosquito populations and disease transmission, the press release stated. Overcrowded tents, poor waste management, and damaged infrastructure have all contributed to mosquito breeding in affected areas. With water supply systems disrupted, families are being forced to store water in open containers--another major risk factor. Meanwhile, the absence of reliable healthcare access in quake-hit zones makes early diagnosis and treatment of dengue difficult, potentially leading to a surge in severe cases. "This is what building resilience means," Vuolo added. "We cannot wait for the next outbreak. We need to prevent it now and protect those most at risk--that's how we lay the foundation for stronger, healthier communities after everything else has been lost." In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, WHO launched a Flash Appeal for USD 8 million to fund life-saving trauma care, prevent infectious disease outbreaks, and restore basic health services across affected regions over the next 30 days. The agency continues to advocate for donor support, emphasising that each contribution helps sustain operations in the hardest-hit areas, stated the press release. With temporary camps still overflowing and infrastructure in ruins, WHO's efforts underline a simple but urgent truth: public health cannot be an afterthought in crisis response. For the families like Daw Nandar's--living in uncertainty, clinging to recovery--the work of prevention may well be the difference between survival and collapse.
