Koorachundu blames pig farm wastes for dengue

KOZHIKODE: Koorachundu gram panchayat is under the grip of a dengue scare following the report of two deaths in that area. Gram panchayat officials and locals are pointing to the waste dumped from pig farms which in fact had led to people forming a committee and protesting. Koorachundu had 27 pig farms and 17 of them had been shut down due to the protest recently. But the waste dump was still there, alleged action committee members. District Collector, U.V Jose who visited Koorachundu on Friday ordered stringent action against illegal waste disposers.

But District Medical Officer (DMO) Dr Ashadevi said that waste from pig farms could not be singled out as the reason for dengue. “Dengue causing Aedis mosquito breeds in fresh water. As Koorachundu is an agrarian belt, water stagnated in the folds of tarpaulin sheets and in the husks of coco fruit is enough for mosquitoes. 1 ml of water is enough for the Aegis mosquito,” she said. She added that the death of Maichael Ottaplackal (55) on Thursday, reported due to dengue, was yet to be confirmed.

But the committee has a different take.  “All this garbage has turned our place into a dump yard. The waste which had settled into the soil and water bodies for years is reflecting in the form of dengue,” laments E.C Cheriyan, the convener of the action committee. Gram panchayat President Vincy Thomas stated that no waste dump for pigs was being allowed. “People are in panic and they naturally suspect the pig farm as being the? source of the epidemic,” she says.

However, the Panchayat is yet to action on the licence plea of four pig farms. Locals allege that Athyodithod, a rivulet is a glaring example of the sewage flowing into it from the waste dump of the farms as was a major source for breeding of mosquitoes. Meanwhile, responding to the situation, the outpatient (OP) timing of the Community health centre (CHC) at Koorachundu has been extended to 8 pm. Besides, extra services of a doctor and two nurses has been made available.