Urban News

According to NDMC Health Officer P K Sharma, the continuous rains are washing off the anti-larvae chemical sprayed at vulnerable locations. The same was echoed by MCD Health Committee chairperson V K Monga. “The biolarvicide sprayed by our staff at spots vulnerable to mosquito-breeding is getting washed away most of the time due to the heavy rains, making the whole exercise futile,” he said.

Municipal Commissioner K S Mehra added that fogging exercise carried out by the MCD in residential areas is not totally effective as the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes that spread dengue “can fly only upto a certain height and are usually found in spots in the house like underneath furniture etc”.

“We are intensifying fogging. Residents too must undertake all precautions to control mosquito-breeding in and around their houses,” Mehra said.

The MCD has also roped in employees of the Public Health Department and volunteers — mostly school students — from the National Service Scheme. Monga said these volunteers will visit residential colonies and parks and distribute pamphlets on steps to be taken to combat the spread of dengue and malaria. 

“The health employees will organise rallies and meetings with RWAs and schools on weekends, and on weekdays after office hours,” he said.

Monga added that to check breeding, spraying of pyrethroid inside all rooms of the Village and 21 other sports or training venues in the city will be carried out by the MCD and the Pest Control of India.