Witnessing the ineffectivity of fogging operations in tackling mosquito menace in some areas in the city, Chennai Municipal Corporation will distribute free mosquito nets to poor residents living along the city’s waterways. The Corporation council has passed a resolution to distribute mosquito nets to residents along the 16 minor and major waterways such as the Cooum, Adyar and Buckingham Canal.
According to health department officials, the initiative is likely to prove the most cost-effective way of battling mosquito menace, and in an environment-friendly manner. People who cannot afford repellents are likely to benefit from this scheme.
Mayor Saidai S Duraisamy said the proposal to distribute mosquito nets was aimed at protecting people from vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue. The civic body has been struggling to control mosquito menace and vector-borne diseases despite clearing a number of breeding sources such as coconut shells, unused tyres, overhead tanks and sumps.
