In a bid to help the city tackle mosquito menace, the Kerala State Housing Board (KSHB) has submitted a proposal to Kochi Corporation
to carry out aerial spraying. The proposal entails spraying
insecticides and larvicide in the city's marshlands and adjoining
panchayats.
Sheena Nancy, KSHB executive engineer, said the swamps in Vypeen, Vallarpadam and Fort Kochi were the city's major mosquito breeding grounds.
Hence, merely fogging and spraying city drains and canals will not be enough to contain the menace. "It is in this context that the board submitted the proposal before the corporation. Spraying of insecticides and larvicide has to be done periodically. A committee consisting of district medical officer and district collector should decide on the chemical to be used for spraying," said a senior official.
"We have received the proposal. We will announce our decision after the Piravom bypoll," said T K Ashraf, chairman, health standing committee. He, however, added that helicopters would be used for aerial fogging.
Earlier, corporation held discussions with the Plantation Corporation of India regarding technical aspects as well as procedures to be followed while carrying out such a programme.
The local body had also decided to seek the assistance of the Vector Control Research Centre (VCRC) in deciding on the chemicals to be used for aerial spraying. Dubai Ports World (DP World) and Petronet LNG have already agreed to provide financial assistance for the project.
"Despite preparations, we couldn't go ahead with the project. Though a meeting was to be held with the panchayat presidents of Vypeen and Puthuvypu along with officials representing DP World and Petronet LNG on February 22, it had to be called off as the code of conduct (poll) came into force," added Asharaf.
In a bid to save the city from mosquito menace, the Kerala State Housing Board has submitted a proposal before Kochi Corporation to carry out aerial spraying. The housing board has proposed to spray insecticides and larvicide in marshlands in the city and in adjoining panchayats.
Speaking on the proposed project, executive engineer, Sheena Nancy said that the process of fogging and spraying in drains and canals will not solve the issue of mosquito menace. The swamps in Vypeen, Vallarpadam and Fort Kochi are the major breeding grounds and it is almost impossible to enter these regions physically and destroy mosquito larva.
"In this context the board has submitted a proposal before the Corporation. Periodical spraying of insecticides and larvicide have to be done. A committee consisting of the district medical officer and district collector should decide on the chemical that has to be used for spraying," said a senior official.
The Corporation also confirmed the proposal submitted by the housing board. "Though we received the proposal, we will announce our decision after the Piravom bypolls," said health standing committee, chairman, T K Asharaf. He said that helicopters would be used for carrying out aerial fogging. The Dubai Ports World (DP World) and Petronet LNG had agreed to provide financial assistance for the project.
Earlier the Kochi Corporation had held discussions with the Plantation Corporation of India regarding technical aspects and the procedures to be followed while carrying out such a programme. The local body also took a decision to seek assistance of Vector control research centre (VCRC) in deciding the chemical that would be used for aerial spraying. It was also decided to hire helicopters for the purpose.
"Despite the preparations we couldn't go ahead with the project. Though it was scheduled to hold a meeting on February 22 with the panchayat presidents from Vypeen and Puthuvypu along with officials representing DP World and Petronet LNG it had to be called off as the code of conduct was put into force as part of the bypolls," added Asharaf.
Sheena Nancy, KSHB executive engineer, said the swamps in Vypeen, Vallarpadam and Fort Kochi were the city's major mosquito breeding grounds.
Hence, merely fogging and spraying city drains and canals will not be enough to contain the menace. "It is in this context that the board submitted the proposal before the corporation. Spraying of insecticides and larvicide has to be done periodically. A committee consisting of district medical officer and district collector should decide on the chemical to be used for spraying," said a senior official.
"We have received the proposal. We will announce our decision after the Piravom bypoll," said T K Ashraf, chairman, health standing committee. He, however, added that helicopters would be used for aerial fogging.
Earlier, corporation held discussions with the Plantation Corporation of India regarding technical aspects as well as procedures to be followed while carrying out such a programme.
The local body had also decided to seek the assistance of the Vector Control Research Centre (VCRC) in deciding on the chemicals to be used for aerial spraying. Dubai Ports World (DP World) and Petronet LNG have already agreed to provide financial assistance for the project.
"Despite preparations, we couldn't go ahead with the project. Though a meeting was to be held with the panchayat presidents of Vypeen and Puthuvypu along with officials representing DP World and Petronet LNG on February 22, it had to be called off as the code of conduct (poll) came into force," added Asharaf.
In a bid to save the city from mosquito menace, the Kerala State Housing Board has submitted a proposal before Kochi Corporation to carry out aerial spraying. The housing board has proposed to spray insecticides and larvicide in marshlands in the city and in adjoining panchayats.
Speaking on the proposed project, executive engineer, Sheena Nancy said that the process of fogging and spraying in drains and canals will not solve the issue of mosquito menace. The swamps in Vypeen, Vallarpadam and Fort Kochi are the major breeding grounds and it is almost impossible to enter these regions physically and destroy mosquito larva.
"In this context the board has submitted a proposal before the Corporation. Periodical spraying of insecticides and larvicide have to be done. A committee consisting of the district medical officer and district collector should decide on the chemical that has to be used for spraying," said a senior official.
The Corporation also confirmed the proposal submitted by the housing board. "Though we received the proposal, we will announce our decision after the Piravom bypolls," said health standing committee, chairman, T K Asharaf. He said that helicopters would be used for carrying out aerial fogging. The Dubai Ports World (DP World) and Petronet LNG had agreed to provide financial assistance for the project.
Earlier the Kochi Corporation had held discussions with the Plantation Corporation of India regarding technical aspects and the procedures to be followed while carrying out such a programme. The local body also took a decision to seek assistance of Vector control research centre (VCRC) in deciding the chemical that would be used for aerial spraying. It was also decided to hire helicopters for the purpose.
"Despite the preparations we couldn't go ahead with the project. Though it was scheduled to hold a meeting on February 22 with the panchayat presidents from Vypeen and Puthuvypu along with officials representing DP World and Petronet LNG it had to be called off as the code of conduct was put into force as part of the bypolls," added Asharaf.
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