South Delhi civic body issues 144 notices over mosquito breeding, launches anti-larval drive

In a bid to control the incidence of malaria and dengue in the national capital, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) has launched a seven-day anti-larval drive. The civic body has also sent 144 legal notices to government departments after mosquito breeding was detected on their premises.

Amid the possibility of a spurt in vector-borne diseases due to the rise in temperature, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) has launched an intensive checking campaign against breeding of mosquitoes. The civic body has initiated an anti-larval drive to control larvae breeding in drains, water bodies, swamps and construction sites to control the incidence of malaria and dengue in their respective areas.

Under the initiative, a seven-day anti-larval drive has been launched to contain the spread of malaria and vector-borne diseases. A total of 144 legal notices have also been issued against stakeholders, including the Delhi government’s Irrigation and Flood Control Department, Public Works Department (PWD) and Delhi Jal Board after mosquito breeding was detected on their premises.

"A total of 144 legal notices (challans) have been issued against stakeholders, including Delhi government's Irrigation & flood Control Department, PWD, Delhi Jal Board, etc for mosquito breeding at their buildings and premises,'' the SDMC said in a statement.

Earlier, when all the institutions and construction sites were checked, it was reported that agencies responsible for desilting/removal of hyacinth and floating material from drains and water bodies had not completed the task of removal of hyacinth. During the drive, it was found that the pockets along the edges of drains and water bodies became a breeding ground for culex mosquitoes. It was then decided to intensify the anti-larval drive along the edges of drains and water bodies to destroy culex mosquito breeding.

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''In the south zone, breeding was found at Shamshi Pond Qutub Minar maintained by the ASI, IGNOU campus, IIT Delhi campus, NCERT campus maintained by the CPWD, JNU campus and GK-1 and NRI colony Pump houses of DJB for which legal notices were issued.'' In Najafgarh area, mosquito breeding was found in Dabri Nallah, Roshan garden drain, three ponds of Ghumanhera and Kapashera drain maintained by Irrigation and Flood Control department. ''In the central zone, legal notice against AE (assistant engineer) PWD and JE (junior engineer) DJB were issued for mosquitogenic condition in Rajghat Nallah and reservoir DJB,'' the statement said.

In the Najafgarh area, the breeding was found in Dabri Nallah, Roshan garden drain, three ponds of Ghumanhera and Kapashera drain maintained by Irrigation and Flood Control department for which agency has been prosecuted. In Central Zone, legal notices against AE, PWD and JE and DJB were issued recently for mosquitogenic conditions in Rajghat Nallah and Reservoir DJB.