The Delhi government is planning to create a special task force to step up its fight against dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases, especially ahead of the monsoon season when cases usually rise.
Officials said the proposed panel is still being worked out, with discussions going on at headquarters and zonal levels to decide its structure and duties. The task force will be led by the commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and will include members from the health department, civic agencies and other key stakeholders of the Delhi government.
The main aim is to bring all departments together so that action on the ground becomes faster and more effective.
What the panel will do
Once formed, the task force is expected to keep a close watch on mosquito breeding spots across the city. It will also ensure timely fogging, better sanitation drives and stronger awareness campaigns among residents.
Apart from this, the panel will work on improving surveillance systems, responding quickly to complaints related to water stagnation and unhygienic conditions, and fixing coordination gaps between departments.
Backed by court directions
The move follows a 24th December, 2021, order of the Delhi High Court, which had taken suo motu note of repeated outbreaks of vector-borne diseases in the capital. The court had asked authorities to tighten preventive steps, impose on-the-spot fines, improve coordination and fix accountability of officials to control diseases like dengue, malaria and chikungunya.
Rising concern over cases
Government data shows that dengue cases have seen major fluctuations over the years: 1,072 in 2020, a sharp jump to 9,613 in 2021, then 4,469 in 2022, rising again to 9,266 in 2023 and 6,391 in 2024. So far, 98 cases have been reported till 29th March, 2025.
Malaria cases also increased over time, from 228 in 2020 to 792 in 2024, with 23 cases reported till March 2025. Chikungunya cases stood at 111 in 2020 and rose to 267 in 2024, while four cases have been recorded till 29th March, 2025.
Focus on coordinated action
Officials said that better coordination between departments will be crucial in reducing cases this year. With the monsoon approaching, the government wants to act early so that mosquito breeding can be controlled before it spreads further.
The task force is expected to play a key role in making the city more prepared and moving towards the goal of making Delhi dengue-free within a fixed timeline.
