Karnataka: House flies haunting residents of Hebbal village

DAVANGERE: This is one menace which just refuses to ‘fly’ away. House flies are haunting residents of Hebbal village in the district destroying their peace. Earlier, house flies had made life miserable for Belavanur village residents. Now it is the turn of residents of Hebbal village to fight the flies which continue to thrive despite the use of poison sprays.

The flies are all over drinking water and food with children unable to have dinner and forced to spend sleepless nights. They are forced to have dinner under the cover of mosquito nets, even business at hotels in the village has become dull due to the fly menace!

Villagers blame seven poultry farms situated near the village which they claim are a breeding ground for flies. The waste generated at the farms is not disposed off properly, they say. Heaps of dead hens and feces are seen around the poultry farms with waste and rainwater adding to the filth. The problem has worsened as proprietors of the farms have failed to spray insecticides to keep the flies away.

Hebbal village has about 600 houses and a 3,000 strong population. The problem has worsened in the past three to four months, said villagers. Only the well-off can afford mosquito nets while the poor have to suffer and are also vulnerable to fly-borne diseases. The gram panchayat which gave permission for setting up the poultry farm is responsible for this problem, alleged residents.