The Delhi High Court rapped the AAP-led Delhi government and the municipal corporations for failing to curb the spread of dengue and chikungunya in the national capital.

“Can’t you work together? Do your duties!” the court told the civic bodies and the Delhi government.

The High Court was expressing its concern over the rise in the number of dengue and chikungunya cases. At least five people have been affected by the vector-borne diseases in January alone.

A Bench of acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar asked the Delhi government why it was always at loggerheads with everyone including the Centre and civic bodies.

The Bench was reacting to the AAP’s accusation that the municipal bodies are to be blamed for the inaction in tackling the diseases.

“We do not want any mortality in Delhi due to vector-borne diseases. If not for our intervention, you (the government and corporations) were happy doing nothing. You need to look at reducing garbage generation, instead of more sites for landfills. Else, soon Delhi will move out and only the landfills will remain,” the Bench remarked.

Several petitions have been filed in the High Court seeking action by the state government and civic authorities to stop the spread of dengue and chikungunya.

In November 2017, the court had directed the municipal corporations to provide a geographic map of affected areas in the city.

The Delhi government had told the court that the corporations had not supplied information about the affected locations.

The Bench also observed that by actively monitoring the issue of waste management, the court was doing what should be done by the authorities.

The court slammed the Delhi government for failing to publicise the waste management bye-laws which were framed on the court’s direction and sought a report on the same.

Prior to this, the court had come down heavily on the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for failing to clear garbage in unauthorised colonies

The High Court had suggested that the process of garbage collection be streamlined, adding that biometric attendance of the ‘safai karamcharis’ be taken at least three to four times a day.

Dengue and chikungunya cases spike during the monsoon season but can also stretch to November or December – the retreating monsoon season.

(With inputs from agencies.)