GUWAHATI, Sept 28 - Lack of supply water and plastic waste have been identified as two key causes of proliferation of mosquitoes in the city, door-to-door surveys conducted by the National Health Mission revealed.
As part of its efforts to control the rising cases of dengue in the city, the NHM, through its National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), has been conducting door-to-door surveys across the city, an exercise mostly aimed at identifying the vulnerable areas and reducing the sources of mosquito breeding, besides creating awareness.
�We have seen that in many areas residents store water, particularly that which is used for washing purposes, in containers either outside or inside the houses. Water tanks remain open and residents hardly cover them.
�These open water tanks are major breeding grounds of dengue mosquitoes. In the hill sides like the ones adjacent to GMCH and Kahilipara, people are even using thermocol containers to store water. These are the main mosquito breeding sources. At places, our survey teams have been confronted by the residents who refuse to discontinue the practice, citing lack of supply water,� said an NHM official.
�However, when we showed them the mosquito larvae in the containers, they relented. Moreover, in many areas, water accumulating in plastic waste, like used disposable glasses strewn inside or outside the residences, has been found to be a source of dengue mosquito breeding,� the official said.
Inconsistent water supply in most areas of the city has forced residents to store water required for daily use. In many cases, the stored water is left uncovered. Many residents encountered by the survey teams have argued that not all the containers can be covered.
The NHM survey teams have touched most of the schools in the city, and they claim that people are now becoming aware of the problem and taking preventive measures. Over ten inspection teams of the district administration and NHM are conducting surveys and awareness meetings in vulnerable areas to control the dengue outbreak. The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) has also deployed its own teams for source reduction. The exercise will continue for the next few weeks.
While Zoo-Narengi, Lokhra, Noonmati, areas adjacent to GMCH, Kahilipara etc., have been identified as vulnerable areas, surveys have also found fresh proliferation of Aedes mosquitoes � the genus of mosquito which causes dengue � in new areas like New Guwahati, Botahguli, Six Mile, Borjhar etc.
Till date, over 1,500 dengue cases have been detected in the State this year. The bulk of the cases are in Guwahati.
