With a view to check the spread of dengue and malaria, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has issued stop work notices to 36 constructions sites in Pune.

According to PCMC, stagnant water at the construction sites could cause the spread of dengue and malaria in the city.

While confirming the development, health department chief Nagkumar Kunchagi said, "The health department has been conducting inspection of areas in the respective zones to identify mosquito breeding places. We identified such breeding places at 36 construction sites."

Mr. Kunhagi also said that the building permission department has sent the notices to the concerned builders, developers as well as contractors.

The official further added that construction sites have been directed to conduct fogging with the help of private pest control companies.

However, if they fail, they will be charged 10 times its cost as fine by the PCMC. "The health department is ready to go to the extent of sealing the construction sites if they fail to follow the directives of the PCMC," added the official.

Moreover, PCMC has also the construction sites to make provisions for basic facilities to the laborers like bathing, drinking water and sanitation and to take precautions to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.

It should be noted here that 67 patients of dengue and 111 patients of malaria were detected in PCMC limits between January and June this year. Out of these, the maximum number of cases of these diseases had occurred in Pimpale Saudagar and Chakrapani vasahat in Bhosari.

Apart from this, as a preventative measure, the PCMC has made ample preparations for treatment of dengue at the Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial (YCM) hospital.