Anti-mosquito squad swings into action

KOCHI: The Kochi Corporation launched the operation of the Anti-Mosquito Squad on Friday with a demonstration of the use of fogging machines. As per the scheme, 25 trained specialists will go to the interior areas of the city every day to wipe out the mosquito menace.The special squad is equipped with cycles to move through the city. Earlier, fogging machines were fitted on autorickshaws and other motor vehicles making movement into narrow lanes difficult. The cycles and hand fogging machines are expected to help overcome the hurdle.Fogging will be done in the evening and at night. Each machine will use 11 litres of diesel and perform fogging for a period of one-and-a-half hours every day. This is expected to consume 275 litres of diesel. “This is more economical than the centralised fogging which costs about 294 litres of diesel,” Health Standing Committee Chairman T K Ashraf said.In the first phase of the project, 25 cycles and hand fogging machines were distributed. As of now, the Kochi Corporation is divided into 25 circles, each being served with a squad member. In the second phase, 45 fogging machines will be used.The Anti-Mosquito Squad is part of the Clean City Project launched by the Kochi Corporation. The Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has sponsored the bicycles for the scheme.