KOCHI: In view of widespread complaints against the increasing density of mosquitoes in the city, the health wing of the City Corporation has launched an intensive anti-mosquito drive on Monday. Fogging and chemical spraying in drains and canals and other source reduction programmes will be undertaken. The weak and intermittent monsoon has worsened the mosquito menace in the city. Vehicle-mounted machines will be used for fogging while hand sprayers will be used in narrow roads where big vehicles cannot enter. The time of the fogging will be between 5.30 pm and 7pm.
Two additional health workers will be deputed to each division to carry out the drive. “Focus will be given to west Kochi and other regular problem areas where the attack is severe. Initially, power sprayers with a strong chemical mixture will be used and in the next phases, the chemical spraying will be replac-ed with organic solution considering the environmental impact,” said V. K Minimol, health committee chairperson.
For the last two years, the civic body was not using fogging machines citing a huge fuel expense. Chemical spraying began earlier in Kadavanthra, Panampilly Nagar, Edappally and west Kochi areas. One of the major reasons cited for lapses in the anti-mosquito drive is 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.
