Open drains a source of mosquito breeding
An overflowing drains floods the road near RTC crossroads. (Photo: DC)
Hyderabad: Increasing cases of malaria, viral fever, diarrhoea and other communicable illnesses are being reported more in the old city area, thanks to irregular garbage disposal and open drains. It spares no one. Karwan Assembly constituency MLA Afsar Khan is one of the victims.
GHMC commissioner Somesh Kumar directed all the circle heads in the South Zone to clear the garbage and debris and cover the drains. Motidarwaza in Golconda, Hakimpet, Tolichowki, Ahmednagar, Yakutpura, Talabkatta and Bahadurpura areas in old city have open drains. Residents in the old city do not know what to do with the garbage and simply throw it into the open drains. The Praja Vani (people’s voice) programme on Monday received 10 complaints of mosquito menace. Such complaints have become a daily affair for the GHMC call centre.
Golconda resident Mohammad Samme said, “Since September, the Golconda hospital witnessed 62 cases of malaria and 49 cases of diarrhoea and the number of viral fever cases is more than 100. Around 14 of the patients were my neighbours. The main breeding place of mosquitoes is the Golconda race course club were wild grass has not been cut leading to mosquito breeding in stagnant water. Once in a month the anti-larva operation is conducted and the fogging vehicle is a rare sight here.
“Open drains are a major issue. They were supposed to be desilted and closed before the start of monsoons. Garbage, bio- waste and debris left on the roads are simply dumped in the drains. Dogs live in the drains. Heaps of garbage is found dumped near bus stops, commercial establishments, even at places of worship. The anti-fogging operation can serve no purpose, unless the garbage is cleared. Only during festival the roads are cleaned,” said Zafar Khan, resident of Ahmednagar.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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