Late nod sees insecticide cost shoot up
Thanks to a late approval by the health authorities to allow spray of special mosquito repellent in and around Common-wealth Games Village premises to control dengue, the government will end up paying a higher cost.
Talking to this newspaper, chairman of the MCD’s health committee, V.K. Monga said that the imported spray, which usually costs around `700 to `800 per litre is now costing around `1,300 a litre. “The Mumbai-based company, which is supplying the repellent has increased the cost in the wake of the increased demand,” said Mr Monga, adding that initially there were concerns over availability of the stock. However, he maintained some stock was already there and the work of spraying is already in full flow.
Earlier, a task force of the Centre and the Delhi government, besides civic agencies, had given approval to the spray, synthetic pyrethroids, only after working out the pros and cons of use of the paint with regard to human health.
The authorities wanted to be sure that the spray, which is like paint, did not have any adverse effect when inhaled directly or indirectly.
The permission was granted only after the authorities were assured that it has been in use in certain south and Southeast Asian countries, and has not shown any unwanted effect on human health.
“I have been saying this and I say it again that the choice of the Games Village is not judicious,” said Mr Monga.
The total number of dengue cases in the city have crossed the 1,220-mark this year.
The comparative figures since 2006 to this year show that the jump in the number of cases has been 15 to 20 times.
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