NAGPUR: With the monsoon already here, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is yet to start fogging to kill mosquitoes and failed in its preventive anti-larval measures. Like every year, NMC will this year too probably wake up to the perils of malaria and other monsoon diseases when it is too late.
Come monsoon, water-logging is seen in most slums and low lying areas in the city, creating the ideal breeding environment for the mosquitoes and leading to water-borne diseases like diarrhoea, dysentery, chorea and typhoid, and vector-borne diseases like malaria.
Areas like Itwari, Mahal, Sakkardara, Dhantoli, Sonegaon, Pratap Nagar, Narendra Nagar, Pachpaoli, Jaripatka and Anant Nagar, to name a few, are already under the grip of the mosquito menace.
Experts point out that an unscientific approach adopted by the NMC for anti-larval measures has led to unchecked mosquito breeding. "Sanitation staff should have been given proper training to take up anti-larval measures. But, even the contractor in-charge does not know how to undertake the anti-larval measures," social worker Uma Sarkar points out.
K Raghvendra, a malaria patient, pointed out that due to unclean surroundings, the entire city has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. "Almost all nook and corners of the city are proving to be perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes," claimed Pratima Mantriwar another patient. Last year, the NMC had taken up fogging and even also used phenyl spray in the city to get rid of mosquitoes.
Renowned city physician Dr Pramod Khalatkar pointed out that the city had witnessed rise in malaria cases in the recent past.
NMC health officer (epidemic) Dr Ashok Urkude said, "We have not received any reports regarding mosquito menace. However, NMC will go ahead with its cleanliness drive."
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Nagpur/Mosquitoes_flourish_as_NMC_sleeps/articleshow/3161868.cms
