NEW MISSION: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy sprays disinfectant to launch `Operation Dengue' at Dhoolpet in Hyderabad on Friday.

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Friday formally launched the State's war against mosquitoes, `Operation Dengue', from the Jali Hanuman temple area of Pardiwada in Maharajgunj constituency here.

The mission will also see an impetus on phasing out the dustbin system of garbage collection in the State capital with small plastic bins being given to every household. These would then be passed on to garbage collectors on cycle rickshaws. The aim was to make Hyderabad a dustbin-free city by December this year, he said.

Dr. Reddy, stating that `Operation Dengue' would be a sustained movement for three years, called upon the public to assist the Government towards completely eradicating mosquitoes, which were behind diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and malaria. Some 3,000 cycle rickshaws were on the job in the twin cities to collect garbage directly from households while 300 teams were visiting designated areas for anti-malarial operations. Each team would visit 200 households. "You will have to cooperate with them and make sure that both the interiors and exteriors of your house are made safe from mosquitoes," he said.

Pledge administered

Administering an anti-mosquito/dengue pledge to a handful of school students, Government officials and public at the Dhoolpet stadium, the Chief Minister said the Government was not leaving any stone unturned in its efforts to curb the mosquito menace.

Pointing out that dengue fever was fatal unlike chikungunya, Dr. Reddy said the former had first reared its head in North India before spreading to the South.

Chikungunya had followed the opposite path. "Dengue fevers are normal in September, October and November every year. But this year, it has been more prevalent and we have to be careful,'' he added.

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