KOCHI: The mosquito menace in the city has become more insidious this season, despite the tall claims of the City Corporation on the series of vector control measures being undertaken by it. Usually, the mosquito density in the city reaches its peak during the December-March period, which is considered ideal for breeding.
Though civic authorities have tried out several experiments and technologies and have spent a huge amount of money to resolve the mosquito menace, the issue has not been effectively addressed. The latest in the series was a proposal by a New Delhi-based private firm Vedic Biosources which has agreed to carry out vector control measures in a square kilometre area at a cost of Rs 5 lakh on an experimental basis. “Mosquitoes bite even during the daytime. Though Corporation authorities claim to do fogging and chemical spraying, nothing seems effective,” said Vibin Sebastian, a resident of Kaloor.
For the last two years, the civic body was not using fogging machines citing a huge fuel expense. But, considering the public demand, fogging has restarted this year along with spraying of chemicals in drains and canals. One of the major reasons cited for lapses in anti-mosquito drive is the shortage of health workers. Though there are 74 divisions, there are only 14 health circles with one health inspector, two junior health inspectors and 15 to 100 health workers.
