Anti-larval ops using hazardous pesticide?

• Public worried following reports of mysterious disease in Eluru
• Agricultural experts say 'Organochlorine' is a restricted pesticide
• Entomology officials deny any use of hazardous pesticides
• Operations completed at Ruknud Dowla Lake and Gurram Cheruvu

Hyderabad: Following the completion of GHMC elections, the entomology wing has begun anti-larvae drive to tackle mosquito menace in the city. However, it is causing apprehensions amid the reports from Eluru in Andhra Pradesh of one death and hospitalising of hundreds due to a mysterious disease.

People are worried over alleged use of 'Organochlorine' to control mosquito breeding. According to the agricultural experts, 'Organochlorine' is a restricted pesticide and if used could have long drawn implications over human health and results in tragedies.

"The excessive use of hazardous pesticides could trigger a catastrophe in a long run and this sort of activity needs to be supervised and administered only after expert's advice. There's a need to find alternatives to these hazardous pesticides usage in public health, especially against mosquitoes. In the wake of reports from neighboring states, we must take extra precautions before taking up spray using drones to check mosquito breeding," asserted agriculture specialist Dr Narasimha Reddy Donthi.

However, the entomology officials in the city denied using any such type of pesticide and clarified that only Malathian Technical, Diflubezuron, Pyrosene Oil Temephose are being used to check the spread of mosquitoes.

"We use only Malathian Technical for adult mosquito control in localities, Diflubezuron 25% WP for mosquito larvae growth regulator in polluted and fresh water, Pyrosene Oil for mosquito breeding control in polluted water and Temephose 50% EC for mosquito larvae Control in drains, nalas and water bodies," said Udai Kiran, Assistant Entomologist, GHMC.

There are, he said, total six operational circles that include Malakpet, Santoshnagar, Chanrayangutta, Chariminar, Falaknuma and Rajendranagar under entomology wing.

The wing consists of 437 staff members that include Entomology Field Assistants (EFA), Superior Field Worker (SFW) and field workers. There are two fogging machines for each division while two vehicle mounted machines are being used to take up fogging in residential areas. Almost 20 per cent of the staff in every circle have been assigned for election duty and are reinstated now. The anti-larvae operations have been taken up in residential areas besides spraying at water bodies using drone. So far Bum Ruknud Dowla Lake at Shivrampally in Rajendranagar and Gurram Cheruvu Lake in Chandrayengutta were covered. The remaining lakes and areas will be covered as per the schedule.