Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mohammad Syed Khokan will be unfairly harsh if he punishes the house owners for helping the Aedes mosquitoes breed in their premises.
Female Aedes mosquitoes are carriers of dengue and chikunguniya viruses.
The DSCC mayor, while speaking at an 'exchange of opinion' session at the Nagar Bhaban last Monday, threatened to punish the house owners with penal code provisions 269 and 270 if environment conducive to breeding Aedes mosquitoes is detected at their premises. He has a plan to unleash mobile courts to mete out punishment to the errant house owners.
Mr Khokan claimed that the DSCC had been carrying out the anti-mosquito programme regularly. But, he said, it is not possible to control Aedes mosquitoes that usually choose clean water discharged by air coolers, refrigerators or water deposited in flower vases and discarded motor vehicle tires.
There is no denying that the DSCC mayor deserves appreciation for his sincere efforts to rid the Dhakaites of Aedes problem. But prior to punishing the errant house owners he does need to look at the performance of his own organisation.
The Dhakaites are now not being tormented by the Aedes mosquitoes since this particular species of vectors would start breeding in the months between July and September next.
It is none but one particular genus Anopheles or marsh mosquito that has appeared as a nightmare for the people living in Dhaka. The residents of posh areas also do not have any respite. Even during day-time these vectors do attempt to suck blood from humans.
The situation turns rather dreadful after dusk. Most houses keep their doors and windows shut to restrict the entry of mosquitoes, but that does not help much as they come from nowhere.
There is no reason to consider the Anopheles harmless. At least 100 species of this type of mosquito transmit malaria and 30 to 40 transmit parasites. Malaria, still a major health problem in the country, and its certain types have developed resistance to drugs.
Now what are the two city corporations doing to control mosquitoes that breed in open drains, canals and water bodies containing dirty water and garbage? Practically, nothing. Only when the media highlights the problem widely, the city corporations depute some of their employees carrying sprayers or fog machines on their back. Many people tend to suspect efficacy of the pesticides/ insecticides sprayed by the corporation people. Moreover, it does not take too long a time to discontinue operations under the so-called mosquito control programme.
Besides, the relevant agencies hardly initiate any measures to cleanse canals and drains of dirt and silt. Mosquitoes find those attractive places for breeding.
There is no reason to oppose the city corporations' move to make people aware of the Aedes Mosquito problem. But, because of its own failure to cleanse canals, drains and other marshy lands in time, the DSCC loses the right to take actions against the house owners. If the DSCC is really interested to punish the wrongdoers, it should start with its own people who have been utterly failing in carrying out their designated responsibilities.
