The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has given an impetus to its drive against the menace of dengue. The civic body’s insecticide department identified 1,288 dengue breeding sites in its survey across the city, of which about 58 per cent were in the affluent highrises and about 15 per cent in office spaces, in the month of July alone.
“It has been established that highrises, well-to-do households and housing societies are breeding sites for dengue. The problem lies in the fact that not many people are aware that their houses and societies are potential sites. So, we have an awareness programme in place,” said Manisha Mhaiskar, additional municipal commissioner, BMC.
Of the 1,288 spots identified, 160 spots were identified in P North, (Goregaon area) alone, a close second was R North ward (Dahisar) with 145 spots, R South (Kandivali) had 113 spots, and P South (Goregaon) had 67 spots.
“Most often people residing in well-to-do dwellings find it unbelievable that their residences can be the breeding grounds for dengue and thus they are most susceptible to dengue, as compared to slumdwellers, which are often associated with diseases. This is why we are emphasising on the awareness programme and will soon collaborate with radio channels as well for the same,” said Ms Mhaiskar.
Dengue mosquitoes are domestic breeders and their flight is
around 50 metres alone, and hence, water accumulation in homes is always not advisable.
The corporation has trained 100 volunteers who are going door to door to spread awareness to eliminate breeding sites in people’s houses and in their vicinity. “We have covered about 884 house-to-house/housing societies so far,” said Ms Mhaiskar.
BMC is hopeful of getting about 300 more volunteers for the same purpose by the month of August from the National Social Service Scheme.