No poll duty for docs battling H1N1

We hope the collector reconsiders the decision to deploy doctors on election duty."

Helping hand

Manisha Mhaiskar, additional municipal commissioner of the BMC, said, "If the administration falls short of people, we are ready to lend a helping hand.

We also have a control number 108 that can be used if the DHS wants to."

Not a good idea

Dr Jairaj Thanekar, executive health officer, BMC, agreed that deploying health officers on election duty was not a good idea.

"I am worried because the health officers are needed to deal with diseases like malaria, dengue that have to be monitored at least till the end of the monsoon.

The weather is changing and it has become necessary to step up anti-malarial activities."

BMC officials pointed out that during the last Lok Sabha elections, the BMC's insecticide officers were on election duty. This had adversely affected the fogging operations in the city.

Poll Directive

In a unique, but bizarre directive, Mumbai collectors (city and suburbs) have told the RTO to stop, seize and deliver all state government vehicles to the returning officers in 10 constituencies in the city and suburbs.

The vehicles will be used during election duty for the upcoming Assembly elections on October 13.

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