Why GHMC gave up fogging, wonder people in Hyderabad city

Hyderabad: Citizens have been wondering why fogging is not done on a regular basis and why GHMC workers are not seen as before with fogging machines. The department has just 13 vehicle-mounted fogging machines and 150 portable fogging machines which are used in 27 areas.

A senior official says, "As per fogging protocol, it should be done once a week or fortnightly that too away from residential areas as it can cause health problems to children, elderly and asthma patients. The Entomology Department under the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is tasked with efforts for prevention of malaria and dengue across the city."

On condition of anonymity, an officer at the GHMC's anti-mosquito wing said, "There are certain drawbacks of fogging. Chemicals used in fogging are not biodegradable and cause toxicity. Fogging only kills adult mosquitoes, although the adult mosquitoes are killed, the young ones, the larvae, are protected from the insecticide-laden fog."

Veera Chary, president of city-based NGO Welltech Foundation, says: "The lakes in the city are one of the prime reasons for the spread of all vector-borne diseases. There are more than 185 lakes in Hyderabad and none of them is clean and well-maintained.

Garbage and sewerage is let into the lakes, which makes it a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. To stop the mosquito menace, first we should clean up all our lakes and turn them into freshwater bodies."