Govt pushes civic bodies for anti-larvae drives

Kolkata: The state government has asked all the civic bodies to conduct anti-larvae drives seriously.

In the meeting of the nodal body, comprising representatives of the state Health, Fisheries and Urban Development departments, along with representatives of all the municipal corporations and municipalities, which was held at Sasthya Bhavan on Tuesday, senior officials have urged the civic bodies to launch the drives seriously.

Particular emphasis has been laid on cleaning of garbage and house-to-house visit.

It may be mentioned that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in all the administrative review meetings held recently, had asked the civic bodies to launch the drives seriously. The state government has given Rs 4 crore to Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), to launch campaigns in this regard and buy equipment to spray mosquito repellants.

Accordingly, all the municipalities and corporations have taken initiatives to combat dengue and malaria. Some municipalities have released Gappi fishes in drains, as they eat mosquito larvae.

Steps have been taken by all the civic bodies to launch massive awareness campaigns in this regard. Through posters, billboards and tableaus, the awareness drives are being conducted.

People have been urged to cooperate with the civic bodies as without their support, mosquito-borne diseases cannot be controlled.

The KMC has set up 15 dengue detection centres, where blood samples are examined and medicines are given free of cost. The Health department workers are visiting houses to inspect the underground reservoirs and overhead tanks.

Actions are being taken against the owners who are found not maintaining the water tanks properly.

South Dum Dum Municipality has chalked out elaborate plans to combat dengue and malaria, while Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation is conducting anti-larvae drives throughout the year.

Senior state government officials said that as the dengue-carrying mosquitoes have changed their breeding season because of global warming, it is absolutely essential to conduct the drives throughout the year.