'Epidemic' is a word that bureaucrats dread since there is a possibility of heads rolling- however lightly! The infection that has cost the lives of more than 60 people so far is sought to be glossed over. This happened in the case of the unprecedented Supercyclone of Orissa in 1999 too. Babus were giving lectures on the difference between 'wind, 'gale', 'cyclone'and 'supercyclone'. Bureaucrats are more concerned about what the cost would be to government- and not for lives lost. They go by 'definitions' in their manuals- something handed down by the British. What has the government of Maharashtra done to stem the rot, extend treatment and take preventive measures? How much does the Health Minsister know about this particular infection- and the root causes in a state of stagnant water for such long periods? The CM should lead- and stem the rot earliest. There is no dearth of funds in Mumbai. It is leadership that is the call of the hour.
Of course there's an epidemic, but the netas are afraid to confirm same to save thier butts - denial is the first line of offense as any idiot would know. Also, were there just the 37 deaths in only 48 hours or were there much more unaccounted for - those with no relatives to report them dead or missing?
We must control waste from restaurants of Mumbai. Most of the restrurants in Mumbai throw their waste food in open areas or bins where the food is accessible to rats and stray docs. One solution is to have a separate night-time collection system in the city only for restaurants and hotels. These establishments should be charged separately for the collection and transportation of waste food while the food itself can be useful for making either bio-gas or as a fuel or fertilizer.
Another long term solution is to make ISO14001 (certification for EMS) mandatory for all industrial and commercial establishments in the city
According to my estimates there are AT LEAST TEN million rats in Mumbai.
And what exactly haved the useless netas done so far to avert any major epidemic? Zilch! Nada! Nothing! So much for accountable representative govt. Serves you folks right - keep voting useless uncaring inept idiots to office and you get zilch.
