Kolkata civic body uses drones to detect mosquito breeding spots

To deal with the problem of mosquito breeding the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation has started deploying a drone to fly around and locate mosquito larvae, dirt and stagnant water. Heavy rains have led to water collection in small pockets across the city, especially in slum areas. This has caused concern regarding health risks to people living in the vicinity of such areas.

The use of drones can help authorities to detect mosquito larvae in places where municipality personnel cannot access like water accumulated on high ceilings. The exercise started from Bali Math in Duttabad area of Salt Lake in the presence of Mayor Krishna Chakraborty and several health officials. The drone has been provided by the District Magistrate of the neighbouring North 24 Parganas.

Chakraborty said, "It is raining heavily here and water accumulates from place to place which makes it difficult to monitor and detect mosquito breeding sites."

According to the municipality, using smoke and oil (to clear mosquito larvae) faces many problems. Civic body workers are often not allowed to go to the roofs by residents. Now, pictures taken by drones can be used by workers to go to directly and clear the larvae.

—Zee Media Newsroom