Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation's ‘dry day’ drive to fight dengue

BHUBANESWAR: Following its new commissioner Vijay Kulange’s unique idea, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to observe every Sunday and Thursday as “dry day” to curb the spurt of dengue cases in the capital.
Under the initiative, massive awareness and sanitation drives will be carried out on these two days in all 67 wards.
Since all sources of stagnant water, where mosquitoes breed, will be cleared with involvement of residents, sanitation workers and special anti-larva squads in these drives, the project has been named so.
“Sunday has been chosen as one of the ‘dry days’ as office-goers will be present at home. Their involvement is necessary to contain the dengue menace. On Thursday, sanitation drives will be conducted at government and private offices,” Kulande told TOI.
From the breeding sources, the civic body’s surveillance teams will detect the Aedes mosquito larva to help destroy its origin besides keeping the nearby localities under watch. “Ward-wise sensitisation, involving corporators, will be initiated on the ‘dry days’. During prayers, school students will also be made aware about the disease and its prevention. Intense social media campaign will be launched too,” a BMC official said. The number of infected people has crossed 30 so far this month. The BMC’s north-zone areas — Sailashree Vihar, Niladri Vihar, Patia and some parts of Chandrasekharpur — have been worst affected. The city is witnessing a rapid spread of the disease.