BBMP: Fridays are for cleaning

BBMP: Fridays are for cleaning

Staff Reporter

The civic body to take up special drive in 100-odd wards

The programme includes complete removal of garbage, debris and silt
Mosquito-breeding spots and areas vulnerable to water-borne diseases to be targeted

BANGALORE: Bangaloreans are likely to enjoy “clean Fridays” for two months from June 15. At least that is what the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials promise.

To check the outbreak of water and vector-borne diseases, the BBMP will take up special intensive cleaning of areas every Friday starting June 15.

This intensive cleaning campaign, to be taken up in the 100-odd wards initially, will cover complete removal of garbage, debris, silt and commercial waste from pavements, cleaning of vacant sites, elimination of black spots, clearing of clogged shoulder drains, medians and kerbs, spraying and fogging of chemicals to check mosquito breeding and an intensified dog-catching drive.

Giving details of the campaign, BBMP Special Commissioner Gaurav Gupta told presspersons here on Thursday that the intensive cleaning campaign was in view of outbreak of vector-borne diseases such as Chikungunya in Kerala and Mysore.

“We will step up the mosquito control programme in the city and ensure that all mosquito breeding spots and vulnerable spots are tackled. Spraying of larvaecide (Baytex and Abate) will be done every week from 6.30 a.m. to 11 a.m.,” he said.
Awareness campaign

The health officials will start a campaign to create awareness among citizens about prevention of outbreak of diseases.

Anti-larval operations will be taken up in every ward by removing garbage thrown in storm water drains and canals.

“All clogged drains will be cleared to ensure easy flow of water and prevent mosquito breeding,” Mr. Gupta said.

The Hindu reported last week that mosquito control was last on the priority list of the BBMP and officials had justified that the civic body was short-staffed. Brushing aside this criticism, the Special Commissioner said that fogging w as carried out in areas from where suspected cases of Chikungunya were reported last year.

As many as 22 cases of Malaria and 30 suspected cases of Chikungunya were reported in BBMP hospitals last year.

All the Medical Officers of BBMP hospitals had been instructed to collect blood samples of people who report with symptoms of malaria, chikungunya and dengue. Health check-up and awareness camps would be conducted in every ward and adequate stocks of medicine would be made available in all BBMP hospitals to tackle the situation, he said.
Fishes to the fore

For biological control of mosquito larvae in tanks and lakes, fishes such as guppy and gambusia that eat would be released. Such an exercise was carried out last year and had been found to be effective, B.V. Kulkarni, Joint Commissioner (Health), said.

The campaign would be carried out in coordination with residents’ welfare associations, other civic agencies such as Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), trade bodies and BBMP’s private garbage contractors, he said.

The civic body would designate headmasters of BBMP schools, Assistant Revenue Officers (AROs), executive engineers and other staff from the engineering and health departments as nodal officials to monitor the campaign in their jurisdiction. A similar campaign would be carried out in the new zones of Bommanahalli, Dasarahalli, Mahadevapura, Byatarayanapura and Rajarajeshwarinagar, he added.