Drive begins to curb mosquito menace along banks of Musi

HYDERABAD: In response to an article published in STOI on Sunday, titled ‘Bites, disease and despair: Attapur’s mosquito crisis’, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) authorities deployed a team of entomologists to clean the area along the banks of the Musi.“We deployed a crane to remove litter, and a team of entomologists conducted anti-larval operations and sprayed disinfectants where all breeding was taking place.Removal of weed plants was also done as they are another breeding hub,” said K Ravi Kumar, deputy commissioner of GHMC Charminar zone. He said fogging and antimalarial drives will be conducted frequently to curb mosquito menace.Earlier, residents of Laxmi Nagar and Nalanda Nagar in Attapur, located along Bapu Ghat Road near the Musi, complained of a heavy mosquito menace persisting for around two to three years. They voiced frustration regarding the worsening situation, making outdoor activities next to impossible, particularly after sunset.Residents attributed the issue to stagnant water in the Musi and piles of garbage along its banks, causing an unbearable stench, further turning the river into an open drain as described by many.