Same yearly story: Mosquitoes breeding in every 15th house

NEW DELHI: Residents of over 1.2 lakh houses in the city were found to have done little to prevent mosquitoes from breeding around them. This year, municipal workers found mosquito-breeding in every 15th home in Delhi.

A joint report by South, East and North Delhi Municipal Corporations said health workers visited around 15 lakh houses between January 1 and September 10 this year. According to census 2011, Delhi has 33 lakh households.

Data shows that it has become a trend. Every year since 2013, over one lakh homes are found to have larvae breeding.

Last year, when the national capital witnessed the worst dengue outbreak in 19 years with 16,000 cases and 60 deaths, mosquito-breeding was detected in every eighth home. In 2014 and 2013, one in 13 houses inspected by the municipalities had larvae breeding. Together, the three civic agencies survey 15 lakh homes every year.

Experts say no lessons have been learnt from the past.

By Wednesday, 10 people had died of chikungunya and eight of dengue. This is the first time chikungunya deaths have been reported in the city. Both diseases are caused by the virus spread by the bite of aedes aegypti mosquito that breeds in clean, stagnant water.

“Delhi is the only state where dengue breeding checkers go door-to-door for inspection. Yet people do not co-operate,” said municipal health officer BK Hazarika.

“We face a lot of resistance from people. Our workers are not even allowed to enter the gates of the affluent neighbourhoods,” he said.

Dr DK Seth, the head of hospital administration in North Delhi corporation, said citizens must act responsibly.

“Why is that you need a municipal staff to come to your house? It will take not more than five minutes for people to check breeding in their own homes,” Dr Seth said.

The disease can only be controlled if people will support the measures taken by civic bodies, he said.

This year, the corporations have issued a legal notice to 10.5 lakh households, which come with a warning of a fine of Rs 500 to Rs 3,000. Occupants of 10,500 other houses have directed to pay the fine or appear before a municipal magistrate.