Hyacinth breeding mosquitoes

Hyderabad: The rapid spread of water hyacinth in water bodies, especially in Hussainsagar Lake, is being cited as the main reason for the increase in mosquitoes.

Be it at Uppal, Alwal, Rajendranagar, Safilguda, Langer House or Kapra, locals are fed up with the mosquito menace. GHMC authorities say that mosquito breeding is directly proportional to the growth of water hyacinth in water bodies. The problem is intense in areas surrounding Tank Bund, Durgam Cheruvu, Golconda, Asifnagar, Tolichowki, Safilguda and colonies which are close to city lakes.

In these areas, entomologists say that the mosquito population, measured in units of Man Hour Density  stands at 18.75 (the figure differs area, street and colony wise). The MHD is calculated by counting the mosquitoes trapped in a suction pump in an hour in a stipulated place, mostly in the evenings. Anti-mosquito operations are taken up in areas based on the MHD count.

“The mosquitos will decrease from April 15 onwards,” said GHMC chief entomologist Venkatesh V.

“The reason for high MHD in these areas is that there are water bodies like Shah Ateem Talab at Quli Qutb Shah Tombs and Langer House water tank; and most of the small water bodies have water hyacinth and other weeds which offer dense organic matter that aid in mosquito breeding,”   he added.

In the outlying areas like Safilguda and Alwal, the MHD count stood at 16, while Uppal and adjoining colonies registered 10 MHD. The presence of water hyacinth in Bandlaguda Lake is leading to mosquito-related problems in Uppal and surrounding areas. In addition to the growth of water hyacinth, the weather between February and April is congenial for mosquito breeding.

Residents of Methodist Colony, Begumpet, say that the hyacinth has been growing for weeks now .

“We are forced to shut our doors and windows because of the mosquitoes. Repellants and coils are of no use. Night temperatures have increased but we cannot keep the windows open because of mosquitoes. We are facing sleepless nights due to the mosquito menace caused by the growth of water hyacinth in Hussainsagar,” said Manju Singh.

Meanwhile R.P. Khajuria, member environment, HMDA, said that water hyacinth was an indicator of increased pollution. The sewerage and chemical effluents flowing from the Kukatpally nala was the major reason for the rapid growth of water hyacinth, he added.

Presently, around 100 labourers have been hired to manually remove it, however it needs a machine. The HMDA has proposed to procure two more vehicles for speedy disposal the water hyacinth.