BMC is neglecting storm water drains: Activists

Even as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) claims to be taking all preventive steps to control malaria, activists from the suburbs have complained that civic officials are overlooking the Storm Water Drainage (SWD), which is major breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Even as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) claims to be taking all preventive steps to control malaria, activists from the suburbs have complained that civic officials are overlooking the Storm Water Drainage (SWD), which is major breeding ground for mosquitoes.

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“The BMC is only concentrating on under construction sites and is neglecting the 2000km-long storm water drainage network in the suburbs. The SWD is covered by concrete slabs that are heavy to lift and are therefore not opened by the pest control department to spray insecticide. As a result, the SWD has become the biggest breeding ground for mosquitoes,” said Rajkumar Sharma, an RTI activist from Chembur.

S Ganesan, president of the Pestom Sagar Citizens’ Forum Group said, “Earlier, when the drainages were open, the BMC would clean them periodically. But ever since they have been covered, cleaning takes place only once in year, before the monsoon. During the rest of the year, it remains filled with garbage which attracts mosquitoes.”