Prof. Vikas Mathkari

At Goodluck chowk, in an hour atleast 1310 citizens cross the road. Since the F.C Road has become one way now,  the number of vehicles on the road has increased and the speed is high it has become difficult and unsafe for the pedestrians to cross the road, especially for the children and elderly people.
PMC has hence come up with the solution as constructing a subway at Goodluck chowk. BJP and I have welcomed the project. But there are some people and organisations who are opposing this plan for their personal benefits.
Congress MLA Mr. Vinayak Nimhan met Chief Minister Ashok Chavan in Mumbai ans sought his intervention and the construction work came to an halt.
I strongly feel that the work for development and convenience of citizens should not be politicised. Hence all of the responsible citizens should come forward with us to join hands to make a better Pune.

Pune is fighting from swine flu and the Chief Minister did not bother to visit pune until today. People come to Pune with a dream of good education and employment but for the first time people are migrating from this beautiful city. Only after IBN Lokmat came up with a story of Mr.Suresh Kalmadi being missing, he came back from his foreign tour. Visit of varoius leaders gear up the complete machinery and brings about more help. Health Minister Mr Gulam Nabi Azad instead of providing help, has created a panic by blaming innocent patients like Rida Shaikh. if the government would have taken timely precautions like setting up of carbon camera for screening at all airports then innocent citizens would not have to loose their lives. Chief Minister of Maharashtra was busy inaugrating the express highway on name of Yashwant Rao Chavan, where he has no role to play. If he had taken initiative of installing new machinery, decisions of school shutdown, imposing of mexico model etc. The wide spread of swine flu could have been controlled. Only one leader Mr. Gopinath Munde was an exception who visited Naidu hospital. I accompanied him. We saw people waiting in long queues for tests, reports and medicines. Mr Milind Kamble on my instruction is providing tea, refreshments and drinking water to relatives of patients as nothing is available in close vicinity to Naidu hospital. Also Pandals are erected for the people who have to wait in long queues. On my instance administration agreed to open new centres to cure swine flu. Now we have 27 centres. Tamiflu tablets are available at all centres. Mr Mishra, Director of NIV has informed us that this virus is not changing its state. Mr. Kailash Sontake and Mr. Bapu Hatpande with IMA and NIV officers held a meeting in which 1000 RSS workers were designated to work at different centres to help patients. Mr. Prakash Javdekar also visited Naidu hospital with Mr. Dalvi and Mr. Jhalve, PMC Commissioner.

I appeal to all citizens not to panic but take precautions. Swine flu is not a fatal disease. It is curable like any other influenza. In my earlier blog I have mentioned about the precautions and cure. I welcome initiative taken by Janmashtami mandals to create enough seriousness and stop the spread of swine flu. I appeal to the students particularly not to leave the city.

H1N1 (Swine Flu) Virus: Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the H1N1 (Swine Flu) Virus?
A. H1N1 (also referred to as “Swine Flu”) is a new, contagious, influenza virus.

Q. What are the symptoms of infection?
A. Fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people report diarrhoea and vomiting as well.

Q. How does the virus spread from person to person?
A. It is most likely spreading from person to person in the same way seasonal flu viruses spread: through infectious respiratory droplets. They are expelled when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. If these droplets get into a healthy person’s nose or mouth, they can get infected. Sometimes people get infected when they touch something with flu virus on it, and then touch their mouth or nose. Flu viruses can live on objects (doorknobs, keyboards, counters, etc.) for hours.

Q. How does I avoid getting infected?
A. Follow some simple precautions:

1. Wash your hands frequently
–Use antibacterial soaps to cleanse your hands. Wash them often, at least 15 seconds and rinse with running water.

2. Get enough sleep
–Try to get 8 hours of good sleep every night to keep your immune system in top flu-fighting shape.

3. Drink sufficient fluids
–Drink 8 to10 glasses of water each day to flush toxins from your system and maintain good moisture and mucous production in your sinuses.

4. Boost your immune system
–Keeping your body strong, nourished, and ready to fight infection is important in flu prevention. So stick with whole grains, colourful vegetables, and vitamin-rich fruits.

5. Keep informed
–The government is taking necessary steps to prevent the pandemic and periodically release guidelines to keep the pandemic away. Please make sure to keep up to date on the information and act in a calm manner.

6. Avoid excessive alcohol
–Apart from being a mood depressant, excessive hard liquor is an immune suppressant that can actually decrease your resistance to viral infections like swine flu. So stay away from excessive hard alcoholic drinks so that your immune system may be strong. Red wines are recommended, though, upto 100ml a day.

7. Be physically active
–Moderate exercise can support the immune system by increasing circulation and oxygenating the body. For example brisk walking for 30-40 minutes 3-4 times a week will significantly perk up your immunity.

8. Keep away from people with flu-like symptoms
–Flu virus spreads when particles dispersed into the air through a cough or sneeze reach someone else nose. So if you have to be around someone who has flu-like symptoms, try to stay a few feet away from them and especially, avoid physical contact. Wear N95 approved nose/mouth masks.

9. Know when to get help
–Consult your doctor if you have a cough and fever and follow their instructions, including taking medicine as prescribed.

10. Avoid crowded areas
–Try to avoid unnecessary trips outside.

Q. Are there medicines to treat infection?
A. Oseltamvir and Zanamvir (also called “Tami-flu”) are recommended for treatment and/or prevention of infection.

Q. If I get flu-like symptoms, what do I do?
A. First, consult a doctor IMMEDIATELY. Get tested for the H1N1 virus. Follow precautions to prevent infecting others:

1. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
– Throw the tissue in the trach after use.

2. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
– Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, as the germs spread this way.

3. Stay home for 7 days after your symptoms began, or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer.

4. Seek emergency medical attention if you have any of the following symptoms:

For Children:

Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Bluish or gray skin colour
Not drinking enough fluids
Not waking up or not interacting
Irritability
Improvement of symptoms, but later return with fever and worse cough
Fever with a rash
For Adults:

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
Sudden dizziness or confusion
Severe or persistent comiting

Swine Flu has created a panic in Pune city. Death of Rida Shaikh has caused more concern in parents and the matter of national concern.
Hence it is required to make people aware of the symptoms and precautions of Swine Flu.
I appeal all Punekars to help fight this virus H1N1 through taking simple precautions like:–
Washing hands with soap atleast 6 to 7 times a day, Drink boilded water only, while visiting public places keep a clean napkin or mask.
If the symptoms arise get a test done at Naidu Hospital or other 15 centres specially openend by PMC for H1N1 tests.
I am happy that National Institute of Virology has got an internationally recognised state of art machine costing Rs 4.5Cr for the proper tests of H1N1 which is an expensive medical examination.
PMC has made sure that all the patients get proper treatment and hygenic quarantine.
I have met many parents whose children are being treated at Naidu Hospital. They admired PMC and Naidu Hospital for providing good service and paying full attention to every patient inspite of the huge number of cases arising.
I hope that we will be able to conquer this pandemic before the Ganesh festival starts as our city welcomes large number of guests and devotees during that period.
We from PMC are trying our level best to save our city from swine flu so that no other Rida has to loose her life.

PUNE, Feb 21: The sewage treatment plants (STPs) of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) have the capacity to treat only half of the city?s sewage and the remaining half is being disposed without treatment, said Municipal Commissioner Pravinsinh Pardeshi.
Leader of the opposition Vikas Mathkari alleged during the general body meeting on Thursday that the sewage was being directly disposed into the Mutha river in some parts of the city and asked for information about the STPs condition.
Pardeshi, in reply, stated that the PMC would find out the gaothan areas from where the sewage was being disposed without treatment.
He said that the city was generating about 700 to 800 MLD of sewage per day and the total capacity of the STPs was only 305 MLDs.
He agreed that the remaining sewage was being disposed without treatment.
Mathkari further alleged that the contracted STPs were not functioning with full capacity and demanded action against them. Other corporators also demanded that the commissioner himself should survey the situation.
The civic chief sought three weeks? slots online time to survey the sewage system.
Mayor Rajlaxmi Bhosale asked the commissioner to table a report in a month.
The PMC has four STPs in the city and another five have been proposed in the draft budget for which Rs 160 crores have been proposed. The proposed STPs are at Naidu Hospital (115 MLDs), Mundhwa (45 MLDs), Baner (30 MLDs), Vitthalwadi (32 MLDs), and Kharadi (40 MLDs).
The PMC has also received proposals for STPs under the JNNURM, which are for Bhairoba Nallah (80 MLDs), Mangalwar Peth (30 MLDs), Kalyaninagar (30 MLDs), Warje (30 MLDs) and Tanajiwadi (30 MLDs).