New Delhi, Oct 29: The Delhi High Court today asked the Centre to explain to it what action has been taken under the newly launched integrated national vector disease control programme to prevent dengue that has claimed 26 RPT 26 lives in the national capital so far. A division bench of Chief Justice B C Patel and JUSTICE A K Sikri, which earlier pulled up the Centre, Delhi government and the civic agencies for having failed to implement its 1998 orders on dengue, also directed the MCD to inform it what action has been taken against the erring officials.

The court also asked the MCD to clarify if its action plan/calendar for prevention of the disease was followed properly and fixed November 12 for hearing.

Earlier, MCD counsel Ashok Bhasin filed an area-wise report on dengue deaths and the number of people suffering from the deadly disease. According to MCD, 26 people have died of dengue so far while 1937 people were treated for the disease in Delhi.

Bhasin informed the court that an executive engineer has been suspended for dereliction of duty while similar action has been taken against an anti-malaria officer and some inspectors.

However, the court was not satisfied with his submission and asked him to inform it what action has been taken against the erring officials. Bureau Report