Rodent problem increasing in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Rodents are proving to be a menace not only for GHMC offices but for everybody in the city. From feasting on files and leftover food to nibbling away fingers, rats are keeping many on their toes.

While this incident exposes the pathetic conditions at government offices, hospitals, schools and commercial establishments need to clean up their premises as well as the twin cities.

Although 256 rat bite cases were reported in 2013, the actual number is double if unreported cases are also considered. However no government department (not the GHMC or forest) takes responsibility for curbing the menace.

Mr A. Shankaran, deputy conservator forest department explained, “Rats, mice, bandicoot, bats etc fall under schedule 5. They are among the list of vermin (pest) classified under the Wildlife Protection Act. These vermin can be killed.

The mechanisms taken up to kill them are traps, cages, poisoned food and rat pads. The main reason for the increase in the number of these pests is environmental imbalance.

Snakes are the natural controllers of rodents. They are pest predators. The body structure of the snake helps it to enter rat holes or hideouts of pests and kill them. But snakes have no entry in urban areas and this has doubled the rat menace. No other animal except a snake can enter a rat hole.”

According to experts, nearly 20 per cent of the food grain produced are eaten by rodents. These vermin multiply in no time. For example a pair of rats can grow to 900 in a year, and the reason is the imbalance in environment. When natural predators are killed the natural balance gets disturbed, and the menace increases, say experts.