Hyderabad: Action taken only on complaints

Hyderabad: The GHMC staff conducts fogging and spraying of insecticides and pesticides only when they complain, said members of resident welfare associations. The operations are not carried out citywide.

With one fogging machine for one division, adequate fogging remains a major challenge. The GHMC has 150 divisions. There is no schedule for fogging.

Mr C.S. Chandrashekar, general secretary of the Federation of Northeastern Colonies of Secunderabad, stated that the colonies that lodge complaints regularly were able to avail of the facilities but those who do not are not covered by the GHMC staff.

Some RWA’s have allotted three members to follow up with the GHMC regularly and get fogging done. Residents said GHMC staff used to conduct fogging till February but they have not been seen since June.

Gunrock Enclave resident Kush Bhandari said garbage is strewn on the road which traps water and becomes breeding grounds for mosquitoes. The garbage is picked up from the pick-up point and not on the roadside. Sweepers come only once in a week.

Residents dump garbage in open areas in residential colonies. With the rains and lack of weekly spraying of insecticides, the proliferation of mosquitoes is rapid.

Banjara Hills resident Sonam Kapoor explained, “Weekly spraying and fogging is done in our area but it is not effective. The chemical combinations must be looked into as mosquitoes are swarming inside when we open the doors in the evening.”

Potholes, stagnation on the roads and use of water to clean homes in the morning is allowing water to stagnate in pockets.

Every rain brings more fresh water which is where the dengue mosquitoes breeds. The residential colonies state that the government must not look at fogging, spraying insecticide and taking up anti-larval measures as a one-time exercise but must work on it regularly, like they did earlier.