The Hindu 18.11.2011
Mosquito menace goes uncontrolled in Tirunelveli
Corporation yet to begin its mosquito-control measures
Home ground: With no mosquito-control operations being taken up, almost
all drainage and irrigation channels have become breeding grounds for
mosquitoes in Tirunelveli. This photograph shows the Palayam channel at
Melappalayam. — Photo: A. Shaikmohideen
The complete ceasing of mosquito-control operations
within the corporation limits for the past few weeks even after
northeast monsoon commenced has resulted in the spreading of
vector-borne diseases in several parts of the urban civic body.
The
corporation used to begin extensive mosquito-control operations in all
55 wards of the urban local body prior to the start of northeast monsoon
every year and the activity would continue till the end of February.
Consequently, the ‘mosquito load’ will be under control to some extent.
However,
this practice cannot be seen in most of the areas under the corporation
limits and complaints from the residents have started reaching the
officials for the past couple of weeks.
Following
instructions from some officials and newly elected councillors, the
mosquito-control operation is being carried out only in ‘select areas’
even as other areas still remain neglected. Even the residents living in
the areas surrounding Mayor’s Bungalow suffer a lot due to mosquito
menace.
When complaints on outbreak of vector-borne
diseases in several parts of the corporation started pouring in from the
public and the councillors, the urban civic body procured new equipment
for fogging operations and sprinkling of anti-larval agents in the
drainage channels and in the water bodies providing potential breeding
ground for mosquitoes to mitigate the situation to some extent. It is
learnt that most of these equipments, owing to lack of periodic
maintenance, are no longer fit for use now.
“Though
the corporation administration supplies the chemicals required for
fogging and anti-larval operations in adequate quantity, these
substances are diluted to the maximum possible extent and hence there
are no desirable results. We’re thinking of checking this problem,” said
a senior corporation official, while conceding that the
mosquito-control operation would commence soon.