The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : More complaints of mosquito menace

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Wednesday, Jan 27, 2010
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

More complaints of mosquito menace

Deepa H Ramakrishnan

Most calls received from areas where there is sewage stagnation

Steps being taken to prevent breeding: officials
“10 man-hour mosquito density has come down”

CHENNAI: Residents across the city are complaining about increase in mosquito menace in the recent weeks.

Seven out of every 10 calls received by the 1913 helpline of the Chennai Corporation pertains to the menace and seeks remedy.

Such calls are mostly from areas where there is sewage stagnation, said sources in the civic body. Complaints are coming from Mylapore, Adyar, Virugambakkam, T.Nagar, Kodambakkam, Velachery, Sowcarpet and Vyasarpadi.

P.Srinivasan, a resident of Moolakothalam in Basin Bridge area, said sewage stagnation was a major issue in their locality, especially on Periya Palayathamman Koil Street, whose residents have been suffering from pain in the joints, fever and even Chikungunya. “Many of us go to the Communicable Diseases Hospital.”

A.Ilankumaran, a resident of Rangarajapuram, said that after Deepavali there has been an increase in mosquitoes. “Some of mosquitoes are as big as flies in size and the repellents available in the market seem to be of little use against them. Corporation does not do any spraying or fogging in our area,” he complained.

Uncleared garbage was a major cause for the mosquito menace in Sowcarpet, said Ankur Shah, an electrical goods dealer.

“Sometimes garbage and filth lie on the road for several days. Roads including Mulla Sahib Street, Govindappa Naicken Street and Irulappan Street are not cleaned on a regular basis,” he said.

However, officials of the civic body said that the 10 man-hour mosquito density which was earlier 56 had now come down to 24.

The test gives figures of how many mosquitoes bite a man in 10 hours. They said steps were being taken to prevent breeding of mosquitoes.

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