The Times of India 25.11.2013
Mosquitoes breed in vacant housing plots
TRICHY: Vacant plots lying in the city have become cesspools after the recent downpour. What makes worse is that these plots have turned into breeding sites of mosquitoes. Strangely, the municipal corporation, which focussed on clogged canal and drains to control mosquito menace, couldn't see the link between barren plots and mosquito breeding.
A large number of agricultural lands are being turned into housing plots in Trichy city which is growing rapidly. Investment on housing plots is found safe by all sections of people including government employees and businessmen. They prefer to buy housing plots and construct houses at a later stage. Many wait for the land prices to appreciate so that they can sell it at a good margin. Water easily seeps into these plots and plot owners don't bother to empty the water, thus aiding the breeding of mosquitoes.
The newly-developed avenues in Kattur, E Pudhur, Kumaran Nagar, Vasan Nagar, Ranga Nagar and localities along Karumandapam road have several vacant housing plots. As there is no way for draining the water due to unavailability of proper drainage facility, water stagnation is unavoidable.
Such housing are breeding sites of mosquitoes. Stench from stagnant water also leaves residents in distress, local residents said.
The corporation claims that they put oil balls (mixture of wooden debris and crude oil) into stagnant water to kill larva. "We have started dropping oil balls into stagnant pools and in the housing plots. The mosquito breeding can be controlled by this measure," said Dr Mariappan, city health officer (CHO), Trichy, adding that the corporation will hold a survey on vacant housing plots.
The owners will be directed to pay the corporation for draining water out of the plots, Dr Mariappan said.
Corporation commissioner VP Thandapani said it is difficult to trace plot owners. "It is a cumbersome work to find out the owners of the housing plots. Even though many of them are aware that the vacant land leads to water stagnation, they do not come forward to keep their housing plots clean to avoid health risks."
