Guntur Deploys AI Drones in Anti-Malaria Drive
The commissioner said the special drive would not be confined to ponds alone
Vijayawada: The Guntur Municipal Corporation (GMC) has launched a technology-driven campaign to curb the growing mosquito menace in the city, deploying AI-based drones to spray anti-larval chemicals over major water bodies and low-lying areas under its “Mission Mosquito” initiative.
GMC commissioner K. Mayur Ashok said the large-scale operation was taken up following a rise in complaints from residents over the increasing mosquito population and seasonal diseases. The drive aims to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne illnesses such as malaria, dengue and chikungunya, while moving towards making Guntur a malaria-free city.
According to the commissioner, drone spraying is being carried out in 26 major ponds and stagnant water zones covering nearly 174 acres across the city. He said dense vegetation, including water hyacinth and thick aquatic growth in ponds, had made manual spraying by malaria field staff both risky and ineffective in several places.
To address the problem, the GMC introduced AI-enabled drones capable of flying at low altitudes over water surfaces and precisely spraying Temephos larvicide at mosquito breeding hotspots. Officials said the drones would help cover larger areas in less time and reach inaccessible locations where breeding often goes unchecked.
The commissioner said the special drive would not be confined to ponds alone. Continuous fogging and anti-larval operations are also being conducted in all wards, particularly in high-risk areas, slums and construction sites where stagnant water accumulation is common.
Ashok said malaria control and eradication could not be achieved through government action alone and called for public participation. He urged residents to prevent water stagnation in household drains, flower pots, old tyres and air coolers, and to observe a weekly “Dry Day” every Friday to eliminate breeding sources.
He further advised people to use mosquito nets, repellents and window mesh to reduce exposure to mosquito bites. He added that free blood testing and malaria treatment facilities were available at all government health centres in the city and urged people suffering from fever to seek immediate medical attention.
