Urban News

The Hindu 22.02.2010

Mosquito menace likely to last another month

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: The menace of mosquitoes would continue in the city for at least one more month, according to health experts.

Though the civic authorities claimed that the anti-mosquito drive was implemented in an organised manner, the parasite menace has not receded in the city. The flushing of drains using saline water and fogging for destroying adult mosquitoes were carried out regularly, said Dr. C.G. Elizabeth, the Health Officer of the Kochi Corporation.

The breeding season of the mosquito usually starts in December. The warm days and chilly nights of the month provide the ideal breeding atmosphere for the insects. The population starts declining during the summer months and the larvae get completely destroyed in the monsoon showers, she explained.

According to the Health officer, a shift in the breeding season of mosquitoes was observed this year. Unlike the earlier years, the breeding season started a bit late this year. Hence, there is the possibility of delayed completion of its breeding cycle, she said.

The mosquito menace has intensified in the city suburbs namely Aluva, Perumbavoor and Thripunithura. It is also the case with most of the cities in the State, she said.

Even while undertaking measures for controlling the mosquito population, the tendency of dumping plastic bottles in drains and opening of toilets to drains were contributing to the proliferation of mosquito population, Dr. Elizabeth said.

The vacant holdings including marshy areas in possession of Southern Railways, Cochin Port Trust and Indian Navy have become the breeding grounds for mosquitoes. The Kochi Corporation has written to these agencies urging them to intensify the anti-mosquito operations in their respective areas. The cooperation of these agencies is also required for effectively controlling the population, she said.

The Corporation authorities claimed that they had initiated the anti-mosquito drive well in advance in the city. The fogging operations started in August and the drains were flushed using saline water as per the demands of the civic representatives, she said. As the operations began early this year, the health department ran short of larvicide. Orders have been placed for sufficient quantities of chemicals used in mosquito control operations in the coming weeks, the Health officer said.

The leaking septic tanks of households were also providing breeding ground for mosquitoes. The civic authorities had earlier initiated steps for covering the air pipes of toilets and plugging the leaks.

The Hindu 22.02.2010

Mosquito-repellent fish sought to be bred

Staff Correspondent

DAVANGERE: Deputy Commissioner K. Amaranarayana has directed the Commissioner of the Davangere City Corporation, Prasanna Kumar, to identify all water bodies in the city, particularly in places where water is stagnant, and take up breeding of a special kind of fish that kills mosquitoes. This is being done in preparation for the Durgamma Jatra Mahotsava that will be held here from February 22. Chairing a special meeting here on Friday, the Deputy Commissioner asked the Commissioner and the District Health Officer, Shivanna Reddy, to procure the fish from the Bhadra reservoir and ensure that the three lakh devotees who were expected to take part in the mahotsava were not affected by malaria or dengue. Mr. Amaranarayana seemed upset when the Commissioner said that only four toilets had been put up for the devotees and asked him whether at all they would be sufficient. He asked the Commissioner to put up temporary toilets or hire mobile toilets for the benefit of the pilgrims. The Commissioner said that hiring mobile toilets would be expensive and added that over Rs. 4 lakh would be needed for the purpose. The Deputy Commissioner said he did not mind spending Rs. 4 lakh for the benefit of three lakh people and asked the Commissioner to go ahead and hire the toilets. He promised the officials that the funds would be released without any difficulty.

Mr. Amaranarayana also asked the officials to ensure that there was regular supply of drinking water in the old Davangere area during the nine-day festival and wanted Project Director Pandurangan and Assistant Commissioner Janaki to install generators at the Bathi and Rajanahalli pump stations for the purpose. Mr. Prasanna Kumar said that over 35 showers had been put up as bathing facility for the pilgrims and said that several taps had also been installed to supply drinking water.

The Deputy Commissioner said he had been told that many women went to temples wearing only leaves, and directed the Assistant Commissioner and the tahsildars to ensure that women were properly clad.

Close-Circuit Televisions had been installed at many points in old Davangere area to ensure that people did not slaughter cattle during the festival, Mr. Amaranarayana said and asked the Police Department to keep a strict watch over the celebrations. He said the High Court had prohibited the sacrifice of animals during the festival and warned that stringent action would be taken against those who violated the rules.