Villivakkam turning into ‘dengue factory’

Mosquito density is high in several areas as there is no regular cleaning; different agencies yet to meet to decide on action

A swarm: The density of mosquitoes has gone up in north Chennai. A scene on Kamarajar Street, Jawahar Nagar .

A polluted canal runs for at least 500 m parallel to the tracks off the Villivakkam Railway Station. Mosquitoes breed in the plastic, glass, metal and ceramic disposables that clog the entire stretch of the drain, which is a few feet away from a residential area.

Abdul Salim, a resident of East Level Cross Road in the area, says that all members of his family have viral fever. “I also have viral infection. I want officials to clean the drain to reduce the mosquito density. I found eight pigs in the drain today. This is making matters worse,” says Mr. Salim. Residents point to the lack of coordination among agencies such as Railways and Chennai Corporation in removing the waste dumped in the polluted drain by an unauthorised market in the area.

Rajaji Nagar in Ward 65 had also reported a rise in dengue cases because of inadequate coordination among various line agencies. A.V. Surendiran, chairman of the welfare association of Rajaji Nagar, says the officials of the Chennai Corporation and the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department have not been able to coordinate in clearing a one-acre piece of land that has emerged as a mosquito-breeding source.

“This land is literally like a dengue factory. Residents want the Corporation to develop a park or playground in the land. But the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department have refused to give the land. They are also unable to clean the land either. There is lack of coordination,” says V. Mani, a resident of Rajaji Nagar.

Former DMK Councillor Deva Jawahar says the compound walls developed by the Railways have prevented compactors from clearing the garbage in many wards. “Vacant lands abutting railway lines are a mosquito-breeding source in many parts of the city,” says Mr. Jawahar.

Clearing of debris

“Corporation officials have stopped clearing debris in a pond on 70 Feet Road near Kamaraj Tenth Street for the past two months. This has led to a rise in mosquito density,” says G. Bavani, a resident of GKM Colony.

G. Karthikeyan of Periyar Nagar says the Corporation officials were not clearing mosquito breeding sources near residential areas.

“They clean the area near commercial buildings that pay money. Construction sites have also not been monitored for mosquito breeding,” he says.

A Chennai Corporation official said meetings will be organised with other line agencies.