KOLKATA: The Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation (BMC), along with health department officials, have started a survey to collect the samples of mosquito larvae from the most dengue-prone zones of Salt Lake and Rajarhat. These samples will be tested in the health department’s laboratory to find out the exact species of mosquitoes so that appropriate larvicide can be used in those areas.
The move came following a prod by health department that has been flooded with complaints from residents that the larvicides used by the civic bodies across the state are not working effectively.
On Thursday, the civic authorities in Bidhannagar have started the survey, along with an awareness campaign, from BMC’s Ward 38 in Duttabad, which has been identified as one of the most dengue-prone zones with a record number of dengue cases and dengue deaths being reported in the past five to six years.
BMC MMiC (health) Banibrata Banerjee said the survey for mosquito larvae collection will be carried out throughout the year. “Complaints were pouring in that the chemicals used as larvicides were not yielding proper results. The samples will be tested to find out the type of the mosquito to determine the appropriate larvicide. The survey will be conducted across the areas under BMC, from where most of the dengue cases are reported,” Banerjee said.
Locals claimed that the Kestopur canal and the eastern drainage channel, which remain clogged with hyacinth and waste throughout the year, trigger mosquito infestation in the BMC areas.
