Bloodsuckers fly free after insecticide sprayers sacked

Since the time Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation sacked its contract staff that would fog the region to rid it of mosquitoes, Mira Road is infested with the bloodsuckers. Now, with monsoon under a couple of months away and summer at its peak, people are witnessing an increase in mosquito population in the area.

"I spend my days and evenings with a mosquito racket in my hand," says Kaveeta Singh, a resident of Sheetal Sarovar, Mira Road East. "No amount of mosquito coil or mat is able to offer us a respite," she said.

Another resident, Sharad Thorbole, 40, from Poonam Sagar said it is a repeat of the 90s in his area. "The mosquito infiltration is the same as it was 20 years back. We cannot open the doors or windows in evenings," he said.

"Mosquito have turned into a menace in the past two months, ever since the MBMC sacked the 180 contractual workers who would spray insecticides in the area," said Milind Mhatre, a local politician from the area.

Rather than waiting for MBMC, some residents are dealing with the situation themselves. "Residents have to mosquito-proof their homes, or keep Chinese mosquito racket handy," said Sohel Shaikh, another resident.

Raj Gharat, public relations officer, MBMC, at first refused to acknowledge that a problem exists. Later, he said, "We have hired new workers for spraying the area to get rid of mosquitoes."