2,35,000 places for mosquitoes to breed

HYDERABAD: There are more than 2,35,000 places for mosquitoes to breed in, apart from the 86 km of nalas and the 12-km stretch of the Musi river within the city.
There are also several uncounted open plots, construction sites and other areas where mosquitoes breed freely.
According to statistics available with the MCH, the city has as many as 41,459 wells, 82,526 cisterns, 67,441 overhead tanks, 43,994 sumps, 30 ponds (90 acres), eight tanks (250 acres) and nalas and the Musi, which have become breeding ground for mosquitoes.
One reason for the manyfold increase in breeding spots is the unprecedented construction of multistoried complexes, creation of open plots, road laying activity, digging of roads for laying cables, establishment of fountains, among others.
Though there is no official figure available on the number of people falling victim this year to diseases carried by mosquitoes, MCH additional commisisoner (health and sanitation) G Malsur said, “the number of mosquito related diseases have increased many fold in the recent past’’.
The MCH has 72 teams to carry out anti-larval operations in the city, apart from the 122 teams of private contractors. Of these, 45 teams are dedicated to fighting mosquitoes on 19 major nalas in the city.
One MCH official said: “Since the inception of the Urban Malaria Scheme in 1972, there has been no increase in the strength of the staff despite the fact that there has been a tremendous increase in breeding surfaces in the city.�
The disease hotspots:
•Mosquitoes that breed in wells, cisterns, overhead tanks, ground pools and fields spread malaria
•Mosquitoes in cesspools, drains, kutcha drain and pits spread filaria
•Those in fields, vegetative ponds, elephant grass cause Japanese encephalitis
•Breeding in household containers, flower vases, tyres and air conditioners spread dengue haemorrhagic fever