Concerned over increasing cases of malaria, North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NMC) has started dropping economical and environment-friendly mosquito larvae-eating fish Gambusia in water-bodies and fountains in its areas to curb mosquito menace and fight vector-borne diseases.
A senior corporation official said eco-friendly methods such as scientifically design dengue free cooler are also being promoted by organising workshops in all its zones. “People are also being advised to use ‘Agave Americana’ plant in cooler to reduce the possibilities of mosquitoes breeding,” he said.
The official said the health department of the north corporation has been breeding fishes in water bodies at its city and Narela zone. “Five new hatcheries were also constructed by engineering department of NMC at malaria circle of city zone this year on the direction of Deputy Commissioner Ruchika Katyal,” he said. Fish will further be dropped in other water bodies as per the requirements, he added.
Experts said that using fishes and other environment friendly methods to check the vector borne diseases are very effective and cheap if compared to insecticides. “This is an environment-friendly method as it prevents pollution of water-bodies with insecticides and other hazardous chemicals. Also, it has the potential to save a sizeable amount of money that is normally used for purchasing insecticides,” he said.
Dr Pramod Varma, District Health Officer of city zone said that a young fish is capable of consuming 100 to 300 larvae in a day and even survives on weeds. “The maximum size attained by a male is 4.5 cm and 5.2 cm to 6.8 cm by a female and its life span is approximately 4 years,” he said.
Verma further said that the female matures in about 3 to 6 months and each ovary contains approximately 120 eggs. He further said that the young females have two gestations per season while the older females may have up to six generations per season. A single female may produce between 900 and 1200 off springs during its life span, he said.
Gambusia fish can tolerate salinity and survive in new places (water bodies) and multiplies easily, he added.
Meanwhile, health officials of the corporation also gearing up to promote dengue free cooler. North corporation spokesperson YS Mann said that maximum breeding of mosquitoes, which causes dengue and Chikungunya takes place in desert coolers so putting a net over water tank can prevent mosquitoes to enter inside the water cooler to breed. “The Corporation is making all efforts but public participation is must for success of the drive for prevention of dengue, malaria or chikungunya,” he said.