The Statesman 30.04.2013
KMC launches campaign to fight malaria
KOLKATA, 30 APRIL: The Kolkata
Municipal Corporation (KMC) has issued a series of instructions to
destroy mosquito breeding grounds at homes.
KMC has launched a
massive awareness campaign in every ward with active assistance of
senior officials of the Health Department. Around 600 hoardings will be
put up all over the city as part of he campaign.
Senior civic
officials said to control malaria mosquito breeding grounds found in
homes should be destroyed. People have been asked to clear overhead
tanks and underground reservoir once a week. They have also been urged
to repair leaks on overhead tanks as puddles that form under the tanks
due to seepage of water are the biggest breeding ground for mosquitoes.
The puddles can be destroyed by cleaning the portion under the overhead
tanks.
Flower vase and air conditioners are potential ground for
the growth of larvae and the water needs to be cleaned at least twice a
week. People who store water in buckets have been asked to cover them
with plastic and tie them up so that the larvae is killed due to lack of
Oxygen.
The KMC has requested builders to buy Knapssek spraying
machine and spray one to one-and-a-half litre of diesel and kerosene
for every 50 sqm area to destroy mosquito breeding grounds at sites
where buildings are coming up.
The price of each spray is around
Rs 3,000 and if required KMC employees will train construction workers
so they can spray repellant at the site.
Meanwhile, the KMC has
started spraying mosquito repellent in drainage canals to destroy
larvae of Culex mosquito. Eighteen rowing boats have been deployed for
the job.
The number of people afflicted with malaria has come down in the city in the past two years.
