Scratch and burn: Insects give Kandivli residents

MUMBAI: Savita D'souza does not fear the dark. But the newly married 29-year-old who works for a shipping company has been spending sleepless nights for the last one month battling the cloud of insects flitting in and out of her Poisar house on St Anthony's Road in Kandivli.
Like Savita, other residents of this road, who live in thatched bungalows, have been complaining bitterly about the affliction, which they blame on their well-fed neighbour - the Food Corporation of India and its granaries.
St Anthony's Road is a diversion off the heavily potholed Our Lady of Fatima Road that connects east and west Kandivli. About one thousand people live in this area, and nearby, along the railway tracks, is the FCI godown.
Savita's sister, Lorraine, complained about the insects to the FCI depot office on October 15, but says that no one has taken any notice. "Our dog Debbie is uneasy all through the night," says Lorraine. "We've tried smoke, sprays, everything that we could do to kill the insects, but it never stops.Every evening, we clean our house at least 15 times. They're multiplying inside hidden corners, and have spread to the bedspread and other inaccessible places."
Their mother's arms are covered with a rash and angry red marks caused by the insects that look like tiny cockroaches. "I have to go to the doctor every other day," she says. "Even the creams have stopped working since the insects keep on coming every day."
An FCI staff member who did not want to be named said that the insect problem did exist, but has now been sorted out. "We have used tablets like Tribolin, chlorine and spray to kill the insects. We have fumigated the grain and are working in two shifts to control the menace. The residents' complaint is no longere standing," he says.
The residents have a different story. Noorjehan Ansari, a housewife in the area, has bought special powder and mosquito nets for her family, the youngest member being her nine-month-old niece Ahana. "We try to kill the insects and the only way of doing it is by breaking them with your nails. They give out a horrible smell," she says, swatting an insect that has settled on her neck. "It's difficult to sleep but eventually one falls asleep. At least I know the children are safe from these insects."
Across from the D'souzas is a paan shop thela run by Kishore Kotian. Kotian's thela is the hub where the neighbourhood meets to discuss issues. He is a party worker and says he does "small help" for the people of the area. "I've complained to the BMC and if the insect issue is not solved in another week then we will decide and take suitable action," he says.