Karnataka High Court directs BBMP to evolve a continuous mechanism to check and control breeding of mosquitoes

High Court of Karnataka directs BBMP to control mosquito breeding, impose fines for negligence, based on rising dengue cases.

The High Court of Karnataka has directed the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike (BBMP) to evolve a continuous mechanism to check and control the breeding of mosquitoes to prevent dengue.

The BBMP has also been directed to impose heavy fine on individuals, residential society or residential hub if they were found negligent in clearing stored water in containers/stagnant water or solid waste that result in breeding of mosquitoes, by framing appropriate rules.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice N.V. Anjaria and Justice K.V. Aravind issued the direction while disposing of a PIL petition, which the court suo motu had initiated in July 2024 by taking cognisance of rising cases of dengue in Bengaluru and other parts of the State. The court had acted based on a letter to the editor published in a newspaper in which a reader had expressed concern over increasing number of dengue cases.

Referring to a research study, conducted by experts of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune from 2004 to 2015, the court said that these research findings “would serve as a guide not only to the BBMP but all other civic bodies in the State in fighting against the deadly disease dengue, for taking preventive measures in advance to not only counter the spread of disease but keep it at a bay.” The study, which used statistical tools as well as other learning methods, found that temperature, rainfall and relative humidity were associated with increased dengue deaths.

Though the Bench said that there is no need to continue the proceedings on the petition as the dengue cases had reduced over a period of time and the State authorities had initiated various measures to prevent the spread of dengue, it said that the State government and the civic bodies should not remain complacent in discharging their duties to avail the medicare facilities for the citizens, to conduct and control the spread of disease.