DNCC to launch ‘combing operation’

Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Md Atiqul Islam yesterday announced that a “combing operation” will be launched in the city today, to eliminate Aedes mosquitoes.

He said this while talking to reporters after inspecting an anti-mosquito drive at Mohakhali bus terminal.

“Today, we visited the bus terminal’s surrounding areas and found some abandoned tires. Aedes mosquitoes usually lay eggs in stagnant water. So, I asked the magistrate to fine the terminal authorities Tk 5 lakh,” he said.

“City corporation staff will visit houses in each area during the combing operation. Action will be taken if Aedes larvae are found. We’ll also conduct drives at all bus terminals, hospitals and police outpost areas,” the mayor said.

Atiqul said DNCC staff will mark sites where Aedes larvae will be detected, and first-time offenders will be given warning. Action will be taken against them after 15 days, if larvae are found there again.

“We’ve brought 200 new fogger machines and 150 spray machines to terminate mosquitoes. We’ll inform media of our latest activities,” he added.

Replying to a question over the effectiveness of pesticides, DNCC entomologist Kabirul Bashar said  new pesticides have been brought in last week, and these are 97-98 percent effective.

DSCC FINES 9 BUILDING OWNERS

Meanwhile, mobile courts yesterday fined owners of nine buildings Tk 2.28 lakh after Aedes mosquito larvae were found at the premises.

The  mobile courts led by Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) executive  magistrates conducted the drives in the capital’s Nayapaltan,  Segunbagicha, Topkhana, Dhanmondi and Jatrabari areas and found Aedes  breeding grounds at the buildings, said a DSCC official.

Later, the courts fined the owners of the buildings, the official said.

The  buildings where Aedes larvae were found included Eastern View in  Nayapaltan and an under-construction site of S Farm in Dhanmondi, he  said.

DSCC will also conduct cleaning drive led by Mayor Sayeed  Khokon at Dhaka Medical College Hospital premises, including its  emergency unit tomorrow, the official added.

The city corporation  has been conducting drives across the city to destroy breeding grounds of Aedes mosquito, which is the carrier of the virus that causes dengue  fever.

As part of the drive, a total of 225 buildings were  inspected by DSCC mobile courts in the five areas yesterday, the  official also said.

A total of 58,748 buildings in the areas were  inspected so far and the owners and residents were asked to stay alert  and ensure cleanliness to prevent Aedes mosquitoes from breeding on the  premises of their establishments.

Also, members of Bangladesh Scouts have visited 1,11,000 houses to destroy Aedes larvae and breeding grounds.

The  ongoing cleaning and awareness building campaign by DSCC and scouts, and  the drives by DSCC mobile courts will continue, he added.