Despite fogging, mosquito menace thrives in Chennai CIty

Published in The New Indian Express, Chennai on February 16, 2012:

Source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/chennai/despite-fogging-mosquito-menace-thrives-in-city/363750.html

CHENNAI:  Despite the Chennai Corporation’s ‘routine’ fogging and other such operations, mosquito menace continues unabated across the city. Barring a few posh localities, where the civic body gives more emphasis and regular fogging, considering the influence of high-profile residents, most parts of the Chennai Corporation, from Edayanchavadi in the north to Uthandi in the south, are reeling under the constant attack of these winged monsters throughout the day.

According to sources in Ripon Building, out of the total complaints registered at the Corporation’s public helpline number (1913), about 70 per cent were mosquito related. Though most of the mosquito-menace reports (from January to April) used to emerge from areas of north Chennai in the previous years due to presence of water hyacinths on Captain Cotton Canal and Buckingham Canal, this time it has been a different story, as substantial number of complaints came from the central and south Chennai areas.

Admitting that there has been a spurt in mosquitoes in the Corporation areas, City Health Officer P Kugananthan told City Express that the civic body is taking all possible steps to contain the menace. “We have asked our field officers to monitor and intensify the fogging and fumigation operations in the severly affected areas. We have also instructed them to increase it on a need basis,” he said.

Though complaints are pouring in from all parts of the city about the menace, the areas on the banks of water channels are the highly affected.

“If the situation goes unchecked, it will lead to a health disaster in the Corporation areas,” A Rajan of Thiruvotriyur told City Express.

 According to sources, repeated complaints of mosquito menace were reported from Thiruvotriyur, Washermenpet, Kodungaiyur, Vyasarpadi, Pulianthope, Kolathur, Madhavaram, Mathur, Manali, Perambur, Anna Nagar, Mogappair, Ambattur, Maduravoyal, Virugambakam, Ramapuram, Madipakkam, Adambakkam, Alandur, Nanganallur, Velachery, Mylapore, Ashok Nagar, Adyar and Thiruvanmiyur.

As the menace goes unchecked, several residents welfare association both in north and south Chennai areas have appealed to the Corporation Commissioner to conduct massive fogging along the water canals crisscrossing the city to stop mosquito breeding.