The larvae, after filtered from water, are then dumped in a specially-designed pit and destroyed. The North MCD has already started the project while the other two agencies — East and South MCDs — are all set to start it soon.
The MCDs, which had faced flak for failing to control the vector-borne disease in the Capital last year, said that they have decided to destroy dengue larvae from the river area and other water bodies first. The Yamuna river, which passes through a big chunk of the Capital, has huge presence of ‘high silt’. Availability of silt not only provides favourable condition for mosquito-breeding but also poses huge difficulty to destroy them. The agencies generally use anti-larvae spray to stop breeding but it fails to get the desired result as the sprays hardly destroy dengue larvae in the water. Additionally, the use of spray in excess during dengue season even affects the ecosystem of the river and the environmental activists rue that survival of fishes, reptiles and amphibians have become difficult due such measures in the recent past.
The civic bodies said that they have adopted an eco-friendly technique. The agencies have claimed to identify pockets which recorded the highest breeding last year and have begun the drive from these pockets. “Dengue crisis deepens in summer seasons due to the weather. “To minimise its effect in coming days we are prepared to take all possible measures and in this row the North Corporation has conducted a two-day pilot project of eco-friendly anti-larvae drive,” said Sanjeev Nayyar, Mayor of North MCD.
The MCD officials informed that during initial drive will be conducted in the areas along the Yamuna river banks from Ram Ghat Wazirabad barrage to ITO bridge this week. The drive was started from Boat Club opposite Metcalf House near Chandgi Ram Akhara early in the morning. Two boats were provided by the Irrigation and Flood Department along with life guards. Municipal Commissioner, Praveen Gupta said: “We have started the project in an eco-friendly way, avoiding spraying of oil or BTI to destroy larvae to protect the Yamuna from pollution.”
Gupta also said that nets are being used to remove larvae along the river banks and then they are taken to the small pits to be disposed of by filling them with earth, to ensure that mosquitoes do not breed. “Today (Friday) a large number of larvae have been trapped and disposed of. The action was encouraging and could lead to reduced mosquito menace,” said Gupta.
According to him, it was noticed that lots of hyacinth are there in the river which gives the mosquitoes good conducive environment for breeding. “For the purpose, the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) and the Irrigation and Flood Department would be contacted for some eco-friendly solutions to the menace,” added the Commissioner.