The Kochi Corporation has decided to use a new mosquito larvicide from Wednesday after its trials in three divisions were found to be be effective, Mayor Soumini Jain has said.
The people in the divisions and councillors were satisfied with the results, she told a meeting convened on Tuesday to discuss an intensive campaign to eradicate mosquitoes and mosquitoe-borne diseases.
The use of the new larvicide would be inaugurated at Kammattipadam in the city on Wednesday at 10 a.m., she added.
The Mayor said mosquitoes appeared to have developed resistance to the larvicide being used at present and the shift to a new larvicide should produce good results. She underscored the importance of the present campaign.
It is to fight mosquitoes and diseases spread by mosquitoes as per the State government directive in the wake of an outbreak of diseases after the rains intensified.
Representatives of residents’ associations in the city, political parties, hospitals, various institutions, corporation councillors, chairpersons of standing committees, health workers, volunteers and teachers were among those who participated in the discussions convened by the Mayor. Health standing committee chairperson V.K. Minimol made the initial remarks about the purpose and the expected direction of the meeting.
The Mayor summed up the suggestions that came up during the discussions. She said plastic continued to dog the waste disposal scene, and schools and halls where social functions were held should be asked to compulsorily follow green protocol.
Suggestions
Suggestions that came up during the discussions included starting pre-monsoon cleaning, decongesting and desilting of stormwater drains in March and finishing it before the rains set in; flushing of canals with salt water to kill mosquitoe larvae; formation of residents’ squads to prevent people from dumping waste by the roadside; cleaning up of city canals; restoration of a large pond near Kunnumpuram near Fort Kochi; revival of the health circles so that they can be effective instruments against spread of diseases; using abandoned water bodies to grow fish and ensuring availability of lorries for removal of waste.
