The entomology wing has taken up an anti larvae campaign soon after the election to check mosquitoes menace in residential areas and in the lakes. However, the residents raised concern over the anti larvae to drive after the Eluru incident in Andhra Pradesh that claimed one life and asphyxiated around 450 others due to mysterious illness.
Soon the reports start pouring in claiming that the use of ‘Organochlorine’, a hazardous pesticide being used to control mosquito breeding in Andhra Pradesh, might have been the actual reason behind the tragedy.
According to the agricultural experts ‘Organochlorine‘ is a restricted pesticide and if used could have long drawn implications for human health and trigger a tragedy.
“The excessive use of hazardous pesticides could trigger a catastrophe in a long run and this sort of activity needs to be supervised and administered only after expert’s advice. Alternatives also need to be explored to these hazardous pesticides usage in public health, especially against mosquitoes. In the wake of reports from the neighboring states we must take extra precautions before taking up spray using drones to check mosquito breeding,” asserted Agriculture Specialist Dr.Narasimha Reddy Donthi.
However, the Entomology officials in the city denied using any such pesticide. “We use only Malathion Technical for Adult Mosquito Control in localities, Diflubezuron 25% WP for Mosquito larvae growth regulator in polluted and freshwater, Pyrosene Oil for mosquito breeding control in polluted water and Temephose 50% EC for mosquito larvae Control in drains, nalas and water bodies,” said Udai Kiran, Assistant Entomologist, GHMC.
There are, he further said, a total of six operational circles under the Entomology wing such as Malakpet, Santoshnagar, Chandrayangutta, Charminar, Falaknuma, and Rajendranagar. The wing consists of almost 437 staff members that include Entomology Field Assistants (EFA), Superior Field Worker (SFW), and Fieldworkers. There are two fogging machines for each division while two vehicle-mounted machines are being used to take up fogging in residential areas.
Almost 20 percent of the staff in every circle has been assigned for election duty but has reinstated after the result. The anti larvae operations have been taken up in residential areas besides spraying at water bodies using drones. So far Bum Ruknud Dowla Lake at Shivrampally, Rajendranagar and Yesterday at Gurrum Cheruvu lake Chandrayengutta were covered. The remaining lakes and areas will be covered as per the schedule.
