Monsoon almost here, piles of garbage spreading fever; pre-monsoon cleaning yet to start

Tuesday 14 May, 2024 | 10:51 PM READ MALAYALAM VERSION

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Piles of garbage on public roads and drains are spreading fever. Mosquitoes abounded as the summer rains dampened the air. Rat nuisance also intensified.

Monsoon will arrive after two weeks. However, most of the local bodies have not started pre-monsoon cleaning. The reason is that the government is yet to make payment.

It was decided to start pre-monsoon cleaning on April 1 under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister. It was also proposed to distribute 30,000 to each ward. However, the fund disbursement did not happen due to financial crisis. At the same time, the Corporations have to pay one lakh rupees for each ward from their own funds. Sewage cleaning has started in some wards in Thiruvananthapuram.

According to the health calendar, Dry Day should be done before monsoon. Dryday should be held at homes on Sundays and at institutions on Fridays. Ward level sanitation committee is in charge. However, committees have not even met even though it's halfway through May already. The premises of apartments, malls, shopping complexes and houses should be cleaned. Bleaching powder should be used in the wells. Fogging should be done for mosquito control. All these are yet to start.

Dengue scare

West Nile virus transmitted by Culex mosquito has been confirmed in 10 people in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts.
Dengue fever, Jaundice, Rat fever, H1N1, Hepatitis etc. are also spreading in different districts.
Vigilance has been issued in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Thrissur districts against dengue.

Fever forecast for June 2023