Palike, residents at loggerheads over mosquito-control drive

Even as the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) claims to have taken adequate measures to control mosquito menace, residents from various areas across the City said that they had seen no such activities in the recent times.

The Palike has made a budgetary allocation of Rs eight crore to control the mosquito menace.

However, two suspected dengue deaths have opened a can of worms about the unhygienic conditions in various parts of the City and also speculation about the proper implementation of the measures.

When Deccan Herald spoke to some of the people in areas prone to mosquito menace, they said that there had been no spraying or fogging in their areas.

Even as a few people said that mosquito-repellent was sprayed, they said that it was of no use. Shantala, a resident of Hebbal, said that mosquito-repellent was sprayed earlier this month.

“But it has made no difference. Mosquito menace persists. We do not even know whether it was actually a repellent.”

HBR Layout under Sarvajnanagar Assembly constituency is one of the worst dengue-affected wards. In the last few weeks, over five people have been diagnosed with dengue. HBR Residents’ Welfare Association president Hidayath Ulla Khan who recently suffered from dengue said, “First my wife was tested positive for dengue.

Then it was me. Luckily, we sought medical assistance immediately. A child and a woman from our area were also diagnosed with dengue.”

Khan added: “When I approached corporator Govindaraju, he promised steps would be taken. It was after subsequent complaints that fogging was carried out but only once. They are just looting money in the name of implementing mosquito-control measures.”

Similar are the woes of residents of Shivajinagar, Domlur, Gandhinagar, Rajajinagar, Jayanagar, Hanumanthnagar and areas along Mysore Road.

G M Diwakar from KR Market Flower Merchants’ Association said that the Palike had turned a deaf ear to the requests for fogging.

The Palike had announced that fogging would be carried out on the basis of requests made. Yet, helplines meant for the same receive not more than two calls a day.

Dr Manoranjan Hegde, Project Director, National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme, said that spraying was done in each ward at least once a week.

He added that a group of six men for each ward were entrusted the responsibility.

Besides, he explained that a senior health inspector in each Assembly constituency would keep tabs on the fogging programme.