The Hindu 09.03.2013
Green way to tackle buzzing menace
On Thursday, the Chennai Corporation considered yet
another initiative in its long, frustrating and challenging battle
against the tiny winged carriers of disease — mosquitoes — a plan is to
go green with the distribution of herbs that repel them.
Ever
year the Corporation spends more than Rs. 5 crore on mosquito control.
And yet, despite efforts, the menace only seems to have increased.
Officials
from various departments have now held discussions with civic body
officials to identify species of herbs that keep mosquitoes away. Once
these are identified, they will be procured by the Corporation, and all
the residential properties of the 10.71 lakh buildings in the city will
get these plants free of cost.
Not only are they
expected to be effective in repelling mosquitoes, they will also serve
as home decorations. Also, some of the species’ flowers or leaves could
be used by residents to extract alkaloids and tackle the mosquito menace
in their neighbourhoods, an official said.
This
step, officials said, will only be one of the many measures the
Corporation will take. Distribution of mosquito nets and fogging
operations will continue.
The herbal plants are also
expected to reduce the impact of environmental damage being caused by
fogging. “The use of insecticides or larvicides have an impact on the
health of residents and also affect the environment,” said B.M. Rex,
entomologist, Spartan Enterprises, a pest control company. People with
wheezing problems and asthma could suffer during intense fogging
operations if the insecticide exceeds the permissible limit, he added.
The use of chemical larvicide too could be hazardous for fish as well as
the environment if used in waterways.