The Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) on Sunday used a drone to find the breeding grounds of the Aedes mosquito which spreads dengue, in its drive aimed at protecting the city dwellers from the mosquito-borne viral disease.
During the drive conducted at Nasirabad Housing Society, the CCC found Aedes larvae in swimming pools and gardens on the building rooftops.
The city corporation fined Tk 87,000 to owners of seven buildings, warned others and distributed leaflets to raise awareness among people in the drive.
Mayor Md Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said, “We have monitored the rooftops of the multi-storey buildings with drones and found water accumulated in almost all the buildings.
“We have warned the building owners. Strict legal action, including fines, will be taken against them if they do not remove the accumulated water.”
The CCC is spraying larvicide and other mosquito repellents, identifying 435 vulnerable areas in the city, he said.
“In this case, the water accumulated on the rooftops of some buildings owned by clueless people has become a big obstacle to success. Particularly, swimming pools and rooftop gardens have become the safe breeding grounds for mosquitoes.” Many building owners are reluctant to allow city corporation workers into their houses, the mayor said.
“Although we are spraying larvicide in drains, these residential buildings are becoming major breeding grounds for mosquitoes. As a result, we are forced to monitor the rooftops with a drone,” Rezaul added.
The city corporation’s Chief Conservancy Officer, Mohammad Abul Hasem, said they are laying emphasis on creating public awareness alongside the 100-day crash programme to contain the dengue menace.
During Sunday’s drive, CCC Special Magistrate Manisha Mahajan fined the owners of seven buildings Tk 87,000 as Aedes larvae and breeding grounds were found on the rooftops.
CCC official Shorful Islam Mahi said they will conduct drives in the city’s 60 residential areas gradually. Besides, manpower has been increased to make the crash programme a success, he added.
Free dengue test
The Chattogram City Corporation has taken the initiative of conducting dengue test for its dwellers free of cost amid the surge of the viral disease.
Mayor Rezaul Karim is set to inaugurate the initiative at the Chattogram City Corporation General Hospital on Monday morning.
CCC Chief Health Officer Dr Salim Akhter Chowdhury said due to the increase of the viral disease, the city corporation will conduct free dengue test for suspected patients.
