Gurgaon RWAs take to own fogging measures, get machines

With the increase in threat of vector-borne diseases such as dengue and chikungunya, several residents welfare associations have resorted to fogging and fumigation

With the increase in threat of vector-borne diseases such as dengue and chikungunya, several residents welfare associations have resorted to fogging and fumigation on their own. Some of the associations have got their own machines and carry out fogging twice or thrice a week.

The practice has not only cut short the dependence on the civic body but also equipped associations with options of area specific fogging at suitable timings. (Parveen Kumar/HT File photo)

The practice has not only cut short the dependence on the civic body but also equipped associations with options of area specific fogging at suitable timings.

Last month, the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) deployed three assistant engineers, two senior sanitary inspectors and four sanitary inspectors to oversee daily fogging in their zones. The workforce has, however, been falling short as residents complained of corporation staff not turning up despite repeated calls.

Official sources said the civic body has not been able to carry out fogging in all areas because of shortage of manpower.

“We are getting fogging done at own expenses since the civic body has been falling short of the task. We borrow fogging machine from a nearby RWA and pay for the machine and fuel for fogging twice a week,” Shiva Choudhary, president of Prayas residents’ welfare association in Block N of Mayfield Garden, said. The RWA borrows machines from C Block association.

The cost of a fogging machine ranges from Rs 35,000 to Rs 40,000. The cost of fuel and chemicals for one-time fogging ranges from Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,800.

“On repeated calls, a man came from the MCG but he went away after doing limited fogging. He promised to come back again but did not return. We got extensive fogging done in the whole sector and parks by paying Rs 21,000 about a fortnight ago. The exercise will be repeated if required,” Dinesh Agarwal, president of Sector 14 RWA, said.

“Our RWA has also got own machine and we carry out fogging whenever needed,” Parveen Kharb of Vatika City in Sector 49, said.

Rajiv Aggarwal, president of Orchid Petal RWA in Sector 49, said they have never been dependent on the MCG or other government agencies for fogging. “Fogging is done thrice or four times a week in our locality. No instances of dengue or chikungunya have been reported from the locality so far,” Aggarwal said.

Dr Asruddin, chief medical officer of the MCG, said there is no shortage of machines and fogging is done in all areas on request too. “Ten new machines have been added recently and there is no slackness in fogging,” he said.

The MCG has 34 fogging machines, including four vehicle mounted machines.