Finally the authorities in the civic body has realised the need to replace the outdated fogging machines with the new ones after a decade. Spending around Rs 80 lakhs, Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has purchased ten portable fogging machines for the State capital.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the RMC officials after the ward councillors complained that the night raids by the pests had made their lives miserable. “The Corporation from long time was planning to take purchase the machines but due shaky politics within the corporation has kept the file was only gathering dust on the table. The machines will be in the city by the end of this month,” Deputy Mayor Sanjeevvijay Vargia said.
He further added that each machine carried the price tag of Rs 8 lakh. The new machines are of German technology and will be delivered by the end of this month. Earlier the corporation had eleven machines for the city but only two big and two portable machines were functional. “Seven machines were lying in the junkyard since 2000. We could not get it repaired because of availability of its spare parts as it is of American technology.”
With the purchase of seven portable fogging machines, RMC will be equipped with nine small and two big fogging machines. All these machines operate with diesel and manathion. Meanwhile, the RMC has ordered the officials to start centralised fogging to control the menace of mosquitoes in the city from May first week. Moreover the authorised persons will act against the roadside fish vendors, unauthorised fruit and vegetable vendors to curb the menace. According to officials the workers have to cover the entire 1,630 km of storm water drains along with bus routes and interior roads in it fogging operations.
“Till now not even a single case of dengue has been reported in Ranchi. The cases in the hospital were of other districts that had come here for treatment. The civic body has decided to use fogging machine as much as possible before the decease take its grip in the city,” added RMC CEO Manoj Kumar The operation will cover all areas of the city simultaneously during the same day on weekly basis.
“Fogging is necessary at least once a week in every ward. The commissioning of more fogging machines will boost the special mosquito control operation in the city,” said Ward number 12 Counsellor Poonam Devi. Khadgarha bus stand, Hindpiri, Islamnagar, Doranda, Joda talab lane (Bariatu) and ITI bus stand are the areas which requires fogging at its earnest twice a week, believes ward counsellors.