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Malaria spurt after oil shortage

BMC has not paid the oil provider Rs15 lakh & has meagre quantity of chemicals, disinfectants used in fogging.

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The civic body’s laxity in clearing pending dues of a paltry sum, has thrown citizens towards the risk of malaria. To eradicate the sting out of a mosquito, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) requires mosquito larvicidal (ML) oil.

But the BMC has run out of stock of the oil, which is effective in destroying mosquito larvae, as it has not paid the oil provider Rs15 lakh.

“The civic body owes Rs15 lakh to the company. Till the debts are cleared, depleting stock of the anti-malaria larvae oil cannot be refurbished,” said a senior civic official. Unable to procure ML oil from Indian Oil Corporation, the civic body has been buying it from private developers.

Municipal commissioner Subodh Kumar in his first press conference had also emphasised on the need to tackle the outbreak of malaria on a priority basis. Appropriate quantity of ML oil has to be acquired to bring down the cases of malaria every year, an official said.

He said that due to the meagre quantity of chemicals and disinfectants used in fogging, areas prone to malaria will see a rise in patients. Jaipal Shetty, a resident, said that fogging, which used to happen twice a day, has plunged to once a month.

But Dr Arun Bamne, BMC’s chief insecticide officer, refuted such claims. He said that the quantity of both ML oil and chemical used for fogging are available.

“The mechanism to contain malaria is in place. The chemicals are insufficient. Although the preventive measures are largely adopted during monsoon, ML oil and fogging is being carried out in places on the basis of requirement,” Bamne said.

Bamne said that all the 227 fogging machines are in working condition.

With cases of malaria coming to fore during off-season, people have a reason to worry. Dr Daksha Shah, head of BMC’s epidemiology cell, however, said that the situation was under control. “Sporadic cases happen throughout the year. There is absolutely no reason for concern,” she said.

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