Gutterless state buildings soon

by Carol Aloysius

The regular outbreak of dengue, and the in difference of state institutions in Dengue eradication has prompted the Health Ministry to remove gutters from these institutions, while mulling gutterless buildings for all state institutions in the near future. Discussions with leading architects are under way in this connection.

Health Ministry sources told the Sunday Observer, that at least 91 percent of the spread of dengue could be eliminated if gutters in state buildings are cleaned, as blocked gutters prevent water from flowing and create ideal mosquito breeding sites.

"If gutters are found to be clogged they will be removed, and the Ministry will file court cases against them immediately," Health Ministry spokesman W.A.D. Wanninayake told The Sunday Observer. He said house owners found guilty would not be exempt from similar penalties. "Though we won't be removing their gutters, they will have to decide whether they want to protect themselves against the dengue menace or face court cases. Many householders have been taken to court so far. We will do likewise for future offenders", he said.

Clogged gutters in schools will suffer the same fate as state institutions.

Wanninayake said that it was not possible to remove gutters from schools at present, due to rain water resulting in more dengue breeding sites.

"However, the Health Ministry is considering to introduce other options", he said.

The number of dengue deaths upto January 2013 was 3,462, while the number of suspected cases of dengue reported from January this year to June was 15,206, with the Colombo district leading and over four districts surpassing the 1,000 mark.

The Dengue Eradication Week will be from July 1-7.