Coimbatore Civic Body Issues Dengue Prevention Rules for Construction Sites, Warns of Legal Action

The Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation has issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) aimed at construction companies and private building owners, mandating preventive measures to curb mosquito breeding and control the spread of dengue across the city's 100 wards.

In a statement, Corporation Commissioner Katta Ravi Teja said anti-mosquito operations are being conducted continuously. Given that current weather conditions are favourable for the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes, which transmit dengue, builders and property owners have been directed to strictly follow the prescribed guidelines.

The SOP mandates that all water storage tanks and plastic drums at construction sites must be kept covered. Tanks and containers should be cleaned regularly with bleaching powder or lime before refilling. Water stagnation in lift pits must be prevented; where unavoidable, bleaching powder or used engine oil should be applied to prevent mosquito larvae from developing.

Construction sites must also be kept free of discarded plastic materials, paper cups, polythene bags, eggshells, coconut shells, paint cans, broken pots, plastic pipes, polystyrene, bottles and other waste that can collect rainwater. Equipment such as mortar pans and wheelbarrows should be cleaned daily and stored without allowing water to accumulate. Wastewater should not be allowed to stagnate around buildings. The civic body has also directed that temporary sheds at construction sites should not be used to store unnecessary materials, particularly tyres, which can become mosquito breeding grounds.

The Corporation has instructed construction firms to maintain hygienic conditions in temporary labour camps and ensure proper disposal of food containers and other waste generated by workers. Builders have also been asked to extend full cooperation to Corporation staff engaged in dengue prevention activities.

The Commissioner added that the SOP must be followed without exception and warned that building owners or managements found violating the prescribed norms would face legal action under the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Public Health Act, 1939.

Dengue is a viral infection transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, causing symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, joint and muscle pain, and rash. In severe cases, it can lead to dengue haemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome, which can be fatal. Preventive measures focus on eliminating mosquito breeding sites, as there is no specific treatment for dengue.

Coimbatore, a major industrial city in Tamil Nadu, has experienced periodic dengue outbreaks. The Corporation's proactive step aims to reduce vector breeding at construction sites, which are often neglected and can become hotspots for mosquito proliferation.