Deccan Chronicle 27.01.2010

Mosquitoes top civic woe in Chennai

Jan. 26: Chennai is now witnessing a spurt in mosquitoes and complaints are pouring in from Mylapore, Velachery, Sowcarpet, Vadapalani and Choolai. According to sources in Ripon Buildings, more than 60 per cent of the complaints received by the corporation grievance cell (1913) is confined to unchecked mosquito menace and sewer blocks. As usual, the labour-dominated north Chennai is the worst affected and the city corporation is fighting a lonely, losing battle against mosquitoes, sources said.

The major reason for the unchecked mosquito breeding is canal water, stormwater drains and sewage. Though fumigation and fogging are carried out on a daily basis, the mosquito menace continues to be a nagging problem in Chennai, a senior corporation official said.

“Children and elders in our locality are spending sleepless nights and the corporation’s fogging operations hardly bring any respite,” says Ms E. Lakshmi, a resident of Vadapalani.

However, health officials maintained that the mosquito density in city was under control. According to corporation health officer, Dr P. Kuganantham, the corporation has identified 120 spots that are prone to mosquito breeding and severe anti-larvicide measures are taken up in these areas on a daily basis. A recent survey indicated mosquito density as 56 ten-man hour, but a similar survey done last week showed that larvae density dipped to 24 ten-man hour, he said.

In fact, the city corporation also recently roped in corporation school students as health ambassadors to campaign for mosquito control measures in their locality, such as identifying stagnant water pools and destroying the breeding sources, but nothing has helped eradicate mosquitoes.

The Hindu 27.01.2010

More complaints of mosquito menace

Deepa H Ramakrishnan

CHENNAI: Residents across the city are complaining about increase in mosquito menace in the recent weeks.

Seven out of every 10 calls received by the 1913 helpline of the Chennai Corporation pertains to the menace and seeks remedy.

Such calls are mostly from areas where there is sewage stagnation, said sources in the civic body. Complaints are coming from Mylapore, Adyar, Virugambakkam, T.Nagar, Kodambakkam, Velachery, Sowcarpet and Vyasarpadi.

P.Srinivasan, a resident of Moolakothalam in Basin Bridge area, said sewage stagnation was a major issue in their locality, especially on Periya Palayathamman Koil Street, whose residents have been suffering from pain in the joints, fever and even Chikungunya. “Many of us go to the Communicable Diseases Hospital.”

A.Ilankumaran, a resident of Rangarajapuram, said that after Deepavali there has been an increase in mosquitoes. “Some of mosquitoes are as big as flies in size and the repellents available in the market seem to be of little use against them. Corporation does not do any spraying or fogging in our area,” he complained.

Uncleared garbage was a major cause for the mosquito menace in Sowcarpet, said Ankur Shah, an electrical goods dealer.

“Sometimes garbage and filth lie on the road for several days. Roads including Mulla Sahib Street, Govindappa Naicken Street and Irulappan Street are not cleaned on a regular basis,” he said.

However, officials of the civic body said that the 10 man-hour mosquito density which was earlier 56 had now come down to 24.

The test gives figures of how many mosquitoes bite a man in 10 hours. They said steps were being taken to prevent breeding of mosquitoes.