The New Indian Express 19.04.2010
Rid city of itching menace
KOCHI: The axiom “Enne thallanda ammaava, njan nannavilla!” sounds apt for the Kochi Corporation, looking at it poor performance in many spheres. Kochiites are losing hope as far as the corporation is concerned. “How can it be otherwise, when the council is a bunch of unimaginative lot lacking vision?” ask a few apparently disappointed residents.
Problems persist. A fast-growing city like Kochi will have lots of them. But that does not mean they should be ignored? It is shameful that the city governing body is yet to find solutions for many of the city’s problems.
Mosquito control, for example, has been one of the burning issues the Corporation has been facing for long. Despite the attempts the Corporation claims to have taken such as fogging and spraying, mosquitoes are doubling by the day.
Kurien George, living near the North railway staion relentlessly enduring the mosquito bites every night, says that fogging is an effective method provided it is carried out periodically. He does not know why fogging is inconsistent. Jolly Joseph who stays on Veekshanam Road, one block away from Kurien, says “fogging has turned smokeless” like the new Good Night mosquito coils. One hears only the purring sound of the rotor picking up sound and fading away; it neither gushes smoke nor gives the odd smell.
Is it one of the Corporation’s advanced technology?Fogging sans smoke? Or is the money marked for fogging being bungled? Eddy, who lives on TAB Road (Ernakulam North), says there’s absolutely no fact in the Corporation’s claims that steps have already been taken to strengthen night fogging.
“For the last one year there has been no fogging,” said Eddy showing small blisters due to mosquito bites all over his arm.
Another step taken by the Corporation is spraying. Of course, the men walk on with the small tank on their back and a sprayer in hand spewing something. “But to kill the larvae, the chemical should be strong and spraying should be regular. Despite all out efforts of the spray men the larvae are multiplying in all the drains in the city.
It has been at least five years since a spray man entered this compound,” says Eddie. When he asked the spray man whether there was any chemical in it, he did not reply.
Nor has he signed the book. Even after five years, neither a junior health inspector nor a senior has ever asked why he has not been signing the spray man’s book. This is the story of the Corporation’s fogging and spraying.
Said the owner of the City Shop at Kacheripady, “The quantity of mosquito coil being dumped in the city is growing.” In spite of the shop owners’ daily rhetoric, a coiladdicted customer dismally said it has become a habit for his wife to sleep with the smoke inside the room. And with a pack of that mortal coil in hand the customer left hoping for a good night’s sleep.
Mosquito control does not lie in fogging or spraying alone, better and well-connected drainage should be built. Are we in short of drains? Never! A good percentage of the Corporation budget is still being spent on building new drains and for maintaining old ones. The only question is whether they have been working effectively or not. Many a drain is blocked and become fertile ground for mosquito breeding.
Are the councillors listening? Are they prepared to take up the work of a planned sewerage system and put an end to this biting problem?
