THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: If not anybody else, former Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac would readily agree with the novelty of City Corporation’s idea. The local body is planning to distribute rat poison to its Health Inspector offices to be distributed to houses in the city. Though the immediate provocation is the rat fever that is spreading, especially in the suburbs, it is also a means to check the increase of menace being caused by the rodents.Only months back, one from the gang had nibbled away the coils in the air conditioner placed in the office of the then Finance Minister Isaac which had led to short circuit and break out of a small fire. The Secretariat and many government offices are under siege by the rats and so are even the Health Inspector offices of the Corporation. Not to mention households where the rats are kings.With rat fever or Leptospirosis, a common find during the monsoons which in its severe condition claim lives, the Corporation’s plan is to aid citizens in their battle against the rodent. ‘‘We will distribute rat poison through our HI offices. If they don’t reach your home, you can always drop in at the nearest HI office and get some . We have been getting many complaints against the menace caused by rats. The main idea, is however to avoid spreading diseases due to rat fever,’’ said S.Pushpalatha, Health Standing Committee Chairperson. The Health Committee is also planning to place nets over the open septic tanks in the city. The Health Inspectors or Corporation daily wage workers would visit homes and see if there are open septic tanks which leads to the spread of mosquitoes and subsequently the fever.If so much attention could be showered upon the rats and mosquitoes, what about the dog menace is a natural question bound to come up. ‘‘We have resumed catching dogs. Our Pettah veterinary office has more than 40 captured dogs sheltered now. We are planning something which cannot be disclosed now. But in two weeks time, a change could be expected in the city,’’ said Pushpalatha.
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