Mosquito gang fails to ring bell for officers

Zila Panchayat president Mahesh Parmar, expressing concern over the increasing mosquito menace, said, “It seems the UMC is not serious about the health of city residents and saints, many of whom have already started losing sleep due to the mosquito menace.” Despite the tall claims of the UMC officials regarding the heavy scheduled fogging to tackle mosquito breeding problem across the city, residents and corporators have alleged the exercise happening only on papers. Uncovered garbage containers, scattered filth, choked drains and stagnant water in the city, including the main road, have made city residents prone to a number of mosquito-borne infectious diseases like malaria and dengue. But UMC authorities are yet to wake up from their deep slumber. Over which Collector Kavindra Kiyawat said, “The health department had informed us about the threat and yes this is the most prone season of Malaria and Dengue. But fogging has already started in the city and settlement of Sadhu Sanyasis, which will reduce the problem.” Committee member Pradip Pandey pointed out that “Malaria parasites have a tendency to lie dormant which may cause a relapse of the disease in the future”. To which Mela officer Avinash Lavania replied, “Except the fogging and spraying the UMC does not have plans now, by agencies are being contacted for a permanent solution.”