With onset of monsoon, KMC launches anti-larvae drive

Kolkata: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has launched a special anti-larvae drive at the onset of monsoon.

The health department of KMC has urged people particularly the residents of highrises to ensure that no empty cups, broken furniture and other used materials are kept on the rooftop. Similarly, the authorities of schools and other educational institutions, central and state government offices have been asked to clear the roofs regularly.

The officer in charge of different police stations have been requested to ensure that there is no accumulation of water on the seized goods like vehicles that have met with road accidents, broken almirahs etc.

Debashis Biswas, chief vector control officer said Dengue and malaria carrying mosquitoes take seven days to become adult. The accumulated water in empty plastic cups and containers, broken furniture serve as a potential breeding ground for the mosquitoes.

"To make the anti-larvae drive launched by KMC successful, cooperation of the residents is required. The civic authorities are conducting awareness programme throughout the year and people should come forward and take up the matter seriously," said Debashis Biswas, Chief Vector Control Officer.

There are 24 Rapid Action teams in KMC. The KMC health department workers are visiting individual houses and housing complexes to examine the overhead tanks and underground reservoirs.

If it is found that the they are not covered properly, the owners in case of individual houses and secretary in case of housing cooperatives are asked to take up the issue immediately. If they fail to comply, then the KMC issue show cause notice.

The civic authorities have decided that in buildings, where mosquito larvae will be found, the local councillors will be informed and will be requested to take the follow up action.

Special stress has been given to remove garbage. Senior officials of all the departments meet on the third Thursday of every month to take a stock of the drives and video conference is held with the borough level officers.

The meeting is presided over by the Municipal Commission Khalil Ahmed.

There are 15 Dengue detection centres in the city and so far not a single Dengue case has been detected.