Deccan Chronicle 30.08.2009
After rains, city battles mosquitoes
Chennai, Aug. 29: The mosquitoes are giving residents of Perambur, Choolai, Vepery and Purasawalkam sleepless nights. The recent spell of rains and inadequate fumigation by the corporation health department have led to the menace, complain residents.
“Water stagnation had turned the drains into breeding points of mosquitoes,” said Mr Paneer Selvam, a retired corporation employee and a resident of Perambur. “The situation in low-lying areas of north Chennai including, Perambur, Villivakkam, Pulianthope and Vysarpadi is really bad. Mosquito coils and repellents have become an integral part of our life.”
The corporation commissioner, Mr Rajesh Lakhoni, said that health department has been asked to intensify its fumigation drive to end the mosquito menace. “Special squads will soon be pressed in to service to spray larvicide along the water channels and drains,” he said. Ripon Building sources said that mosquitoes were breeding in 2.78 lakh water sources including 72,427 wells and 55,762 overhead.
