Residents say that irregular fogging operations and the ineffectiveness of the operations are some of the factors attributed to the mosquito population that has increased this rainy season. After the recent deluge the city had due to Cyclone Nilam, residents complain that the mosquito menace is steadily getting worse. They say that the fogging operations conducted by the Chennai Corporation are irregular and that they don’t show up in certain areas at all.
Pockets of the city like Perambur Barracks Road in Purasawalkam, areas in Kilpauk, Vadapalani, Anna Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Triplicane and areas in Mylapore have not seen regular fogging operations for more than three weeks, say irate residents. “I run around the house with a mosquito bat in my hand after 6 pm. Fogging used to happen regularly but I haven’t seen them do it for a while,” said Susan, a resident of Purasawalkam. Even if fogging operations happen, residents say that the mosquitoes still linger and create havoc after the sun goes down. Areas that are dotted by roadside shops and stores like Mambalam, Mylapore and T Nagar are plagued with mosquitoes even after regular spraying.
Rotten vegetables and fruits and decomposed flowers that the vendors forget to clean add to the existing population of mosquitoes.
“The problem with the Chennai Corporation is that they did not take up fogging operations immediately after the rains. They waited a lot and the menace grew. By that time, the army of mosquitoes had grown by many folds,” said Nanda, a resident of Mylapore.
Residents also allege that tiny streets and narrow lanes do not see Corporation workers regularly. Corporation officials, however, say that all fogging operations have been proceeding according to the schedule. “We have a weekly route map for each zone that the workers are supposed to take and we adhere to it without fail. Mosquito menace has increased yes, but we are taking all steps possible to ensure they do not breed more. If there are complaints about irregularity, we will look into it and rectify the problems,” said Corporation Commissioner D Karthikeyan.
Meanwhile, the residents can put their dormant tennis skills to use, batting away the mosquitoes.