A mass campaign for controlling the mosquito menace will be launched in the city shortly as criticism is being raised against the civic authorities for their “failure in curbing the menace.”
The Opposition councillors of the Kochi Corporation had unleashed scathing criticism against the civic administrators at the last meeting of the Kochi Corporation council for its failure to initiate even the routine steps for controlling the mosquito population in the city.
K.N. Sunilkumar, the CPI (M) Parliamentary party secretary in the Kochi Corporation, said that the local body could not even undertake the rudimentary works like covering the air pipes of toilets with plastic nets, clearing and de-clogging the drains and spraying of anti-mosquito larvicides on time.
The promise made by civic administrators during the first week of the month, to release funds for the anti-mosquito drive in all divisions has also not been fulfilled.
Anti-mosquito fogging operations have also proved ineffective, he said.
T.K. Ashraf, chairman of the Health Standing Committee of the Kochi Corporation, said the local body would kick start its campaign on Tuesday.
The mass campaign would be launched at Fort Kochi Beach at 8 a.m. on December 30.
Around 70 workers of the local body would be marshalled to select areas of the city beginning with Fort Kochi.
In four days, at least 28 divisions will be covered. The health workers were also engaged for fogging during the evening hours in various zone of the city, he said.
Giving out the details of the campaign, Mr. Ashraf said the workers of the local body would simultaneously carry out the pest-control drive in select areas. Power and hand sprayers will also be used for fogging.
Spraying of larvicides will be carried out at all mosquito breeding points. Mass-work would ensure effective anti-mosquito drive in the city, Mr. Ashraf said.
The civic administrator suggested pro-active approach from councillors to meet the challenges. Some councillors were not keen on such measures.
The mosquito eradication campaigns could be made successful only with the active participation of the civic representatives, he said.
Cleaning of beach The civic administration had been focusing on cleaning up the Fort Kochi beach where thousands of New Year revellers would be gathering. The drive has been on for the past 10 days. Additional men and machine had been deployed in the area.
Excavators and workers were added to intensify the drive, he said.
