Noida residents worried by increase in mosquitoes following recent rain

Residents said that a fogging drive is yet to be carried out in most of the areas in Noida.

Following the recent spells of rain over the last week, waterlogging has turned several vacant spots into mosquito breeding grounds.

Following the recent spells of rain over the last week, waterlogging has turned several vacant spots into mosquito breeding grounds. (Sunil Ghosh/HT Photo)

Residents are worried that the Noida authority’s steps to check mosquito breeding at all site, such as open nullahs, potholes, drains and low-lying areas that are prone to waterlogging, are inadequate. Residents said that a fogging drive is yet to be carried out in most of the city areas. Residents said that an authority-appointed worker carries out fogging on a bicycle, which is insufficient.

“This is happening despite complaints of people falling ill with viral fever, chikungunya, malaria, dengue and other water-borne diseases. Fogging should be done twice a week but it is not happening,” said Joginder Singh Awana of Sector 50. He said that he was rendered ill for over a week due to chikungunya.

“In Sector 50, I know seven people who fell ill with high fevers in the last 20 days. Yet, the authority is not taking steps to check mosquito breeding,” Awana said.

Shiv Kumar, a construction worker at Sector 52, said, “I fell ill with viral fever three days ago. I am unable to work.”

Pravir Kumar, chairman of the Noida authority, had ordered the public health department to conduct a month-long fogging drive to prevent mosquito breeding. The schedule for fogging was chalked out by the public health in August, but residents said that the plans are only on the paper.

“We read in newspapers that fogging will done at least two to three times a month in every sector, but I have never seen anyone doing fogging in my sector. This is strange as mosquito menace has increased in the last few weeks but the authority is silent,” KK Jain of Sector 34 said.

The Federation of Noida Residents’ Welfare Associations (Fonrwa) president, NP Singh, said that authority should appoint a dedicated team for conducting the fogging drive.

“I have seen an elderly person on a bicycle doing fogging with ineffective medicines and I spoke to the authority’s health officials, expressing concern to check mosquito breeding at the earliest,” Singh said.

The federation members are likely to meet the Noida authority chairman soon.