The Times of India          24.08.2013

NMC kicks off drive for mosquito, fly free Nagpur

NAGPUR: After three successful mass movements, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) kicked-off its fourth drive, this time to make the city free of mosquito breeding sites aiming at prevention of vector-borne diseases. Mayor Anil Sole urged the citizens to ensure their home and vicinity were free of mosquito breeding sites and at the same time directed the civic officials and staffers to do the same in public places.

NMC officials and staffers along with corporators, social activists and students gathered at 150 squares across the city and presented pamphlets highlighting measures to prevent vector-borne diseases like dengue, malaria, chikungunya, filaria and also water-borne diseases like gastro, cholera, jaundice, typhoid etc. Within an hour, lakhs of citizens were presented with pamphlets. NMC staffers also displayed banners and posters standing in the squares. The representatives of NGOs interacted with the citizens and also replied to their queries.

"Around 50,000 volunteers participated in the campaign and lakhs of citizens were covered. City will become free from these diseases if every citizen ensured cleanliness in his vicinity. NMC will, as usual, execute works such as spraying, identifying stagnant water areas and filling them, removing garbage, supplying water after thorough treatment etc. City saw dengue last year but fortunately was able to control it to a great extent. These measures are important post-monsoon," Sole said.

Chairman of health consultative committee Ramesh Shingare said various types of projects have been planned for next two months. "Rallies were taken out by schools and local self government on Friday. Some schools have come forward to continue the rallies. Campaign will also be taken to households by teams constituted by NMC in each ward," he said.

Sole kicked-off the campaign from Awale Babu square in North Nagpur. Municipal commissioner Shyam Wardhane along with deputy director (health) Dr Milind Ganvir, health officer (sanitation) Dr Ashok Urkude visited many squares and participated in the campaign. Activists of NGO Nisarg Vidyan Mandal and Green Vigil interacted with the citizens while giving them pamphlets.

Shingare said citizens should inform him on phone 9881164150 if they find garbage lying in any part of the city.