With monsoon approaching and fear of dengue, a vector-borne disease, looming, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has planned to introduce e-rickshaw-mounted anti-mosquito fogging machine, the first of its kind in the city for better penetration and coverage. Anti-mosquito and anti-larva chemical spray or fogging (creating a fog of chemical at several vantage points of a locality so that fog reaches every nook and corner to kill larva and mosquito) is essential during monsoon and post monsoon to check the spread of dengue. The capital city reports cases of dengue from July to December. BMC additional commissioner Suvendu Sahu said the fogging machine can move from one place to another with ease. “Our current infrastructure for destruction of mosquito-breeding sources (by fogging) is not enough. While we have augmented by introducing the e-rickshaw, it is also cost effective. A mosquito-prone locality may require frequent spraying. In that case, the small rickshaw can be sent for quick fogging,” said Sahu.
Now, the BMC has one tractor-mounted machine and seven manually operated ones. The e-rickshaw-mounted fogging machines are small in size and can access narrow lanes and also along the drains and slums to spray anti-mosquito chemicals.
In December last year, the BMC had to induct drones into its fight against mosquito menace. Now, with e-rickshaw coming this year drone may not be required.
BMC has identified the localities, which are located near open drains and open spaces that has garbage dumps. These places will be under surveillance.
BMC hopes that compared to last year, this year it is expected to be less severe as open spaces that used to be informal dumpyards have either turned into mini parks or have been converted into hangout zones.
