The exponential growth of pest population has served as a wake-up call for the civic administration, prompting it to intensify mosquito control measures in the city.

Pest population peaks in winter months and the phenomenon is on till March. Accordingly, the civic administration has completed paperwork for deployment of two large fogging machines, said V.K. Minimol, chairperson of the health standing committee of the Kochi Corporation.

Being fuel guzzlers, the deployment of fogging machines requires clearance from the finance standing committee of the civic body. Since the committee has cleared it, the machines will be deployed shortly, said Ms. Minimol. She added that larvicide spraying would also begin shortly, and that hand-held spraying machines would be used.

The civic administration has drawn up special plans for pest control in West Kochi where the Kochi-Muziris Biennale is on. Besides art lovers visiting Biennale venues, tourists have started arriving in West Kochi in large numbers. Incidentally, visitors had earlier complained about mosquito menace in the region.

Apart from the regular 35 health workers in the area, the corporation has deployed another 20 personnel who will be serving in the area till January 15. Meanwhile, the cleanup of the Fort Kochi beach is being undertaken with the cooperation of the Tourism Department. The civic body had recently carried out a massive cleaning operation on the beach, Ms. Minimol said.

Waste collection

There will be no collection and transportation of waste from the city to the solid waste treatment plant at Brahmapuram on Christmas day on December 25.