Belagavi administration issues tender, invites bid to curb rat menace

A labourer who cleans the sub registrar’s office every morning said that the office might be the hub of the rats and mosquitoes as it has stored hundreds of old paper documents and files since decades

The Belagavi district administration has decided to hire an agency to curb the growing menace of rat and mosquitoes in the district collectorate office, officials said on Saturday.

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According to officials, deputy commissioner Nitesh Patil has issued a public tender notice inviting bids. “Since the staff could not work due to the menace of mosquitoes and computers often need repair with wires being cut due to rat bites, the bidders have been asked to apply before August 7. The rats, on an average, cut 5 cables of computers every day,” the staff working at the office told HT.

Describing the administration’s initiative of handing over the assignment to private bidders, Congress officer bearer Ashok Pujari said that private agencies are a waste of public money. “There are other simple ways to tackle this. It’s nothing but a waste of the public money.”

Though the G+2 floor office has a good structure with advanced equipments, most of its paper documents get destroyed due to rate bites. “Our many attempts to catch, kill the rats were in vain. Our last resort was to bring it to the notice of the head of the office who finally has found a way to make us work without any disturbance,” the employees said.

The administration has assumed that the rats and mosquitoes might be entering to the deputy commissioner’s office from the district sub registrar’s office, which is located beside office. The sub registrar operates in an old office building constructed about 100 years ago.

A labourer who cleans the sub registrar’s office every morning said that the office might be the hub of the rats and mosquitoes as it has stored hundreds of old paper documents and files since decades. “Rats, mosquitoes mainly dwell in such places. Despite cleaning the office with disinfectants every day, I couldn’t control the menace,” he said.

Belagavi deputy commissioner deals with14 taluks, 18 assemblies and 2 parliamentary constituencies. It is geopraphically the largest district in the state, which apart from storing and uploading the documents in computers, have to maintain many important files.

The office has preserved many important files of India’s freedom struggle and many historic events which took place over 125 years ago. “Those documents are in such bad state that they get damaged if touched. These might also be a responsible for the rat and mosquito menace,” an official said.

Satish Jarkiholi, district in charge minister and also state public works department (PWD) minister has tabled a proposal before the state government for setting up of a district administration office complex, which can house the important documents stored in the deputy commissioner office.

The surrounding area of the deputy commissioner office has waterlogging and potholes, which often lead to mosquito breeding. Belagavi city corporation commissioner Ashok Dudaganti told HT that the potholes close to the office premises would be filled immediately.

According to the officers, three agencies have responded for the tender notice.