CHENNAI: Residents across the city have raised complaints regarding the rapidly increasing mosquito menace, with those living near canals and other water bodies facing major inconvenience due to a significant rise in mosquito density.
Additionally, residents allege that water stagnation in Stormwater Drains (SWD) and contaminated rainwater mixed with sewage in low-lying areas—particularly where Underground Drainage (UGD) connections are under construction—have increased mosquito breeding and caused various health issues.
Attributing to the mosquito menace, a GCC official in the vector control department said, "Every year, the mosquito breeding will see a surge between November and January. But this year, as the malaria workers are engaged and busy with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) work. The fogging process was seen to decline."
A Francis, president of the Federation of Thoraipakkam Residents Welfare Associations (FOTRWA), said, "Compared to last year, the mosquito menace has increased in Thoraipakkam as installation works in Vinayaga Nagar are under way for months. As a result, residents letout the sewage in vacant lands, which gets mixed with stagnated rainwater in vacant plots."
Echoing similar concerns, a resident of Tod Hunter Nagar in Saidapet, who preferred anonymity, said, "As the new Tamil Nadu Housing Board (TNHB) is located near the Mambalam Canal, the mosquito menace is high, and it raises fear of health issues for small children. We urge the GCC to use drones to spray larvicide in the Mambalam Canal."
In North Chennai, residential areas near the Kodungaiyur canal are facing a severe mosquito problem. LM Jaiganesh, a resident of Muthamil Nagar, stated: "The mosquito menace has increased in Muthamil Nagar, Chinandimadam, Durgai Avenue, and Thendral Nagar, and it has worsened due to the proximity of the Kodungaiyur Canal.
Regular fogging has ceased, while illegal sewage connections keep the stormwater drains flowing year-round, creating a breeding ground for mosquitoes. The immediate resumption of fogging, the sealing of illegal outlets, and thorough canal cleaning are the need of the hour."
Another resident of Madhavaram, M Rakesh, said, "Though the GCC is taking initiatives to reduce the mosquito menace, still the public continues to battle with the swatting mosquitoes.
People aren't able to walk for more than five minutes in the park in our area. To prevent the infants from mosquito bites, we kept them all day inside the mosquito nets."
"Due to the cold temperature in the morning and evening hours, the lifespan of the 21-day mosquito has increased to 29.
Also, the mosquito hatching time has reduced to the usual 9-10 days," explained a GCC official, adding that, "We have instructed the workers in all the zones to conduct fogging activities in the morning and evening for the next ten days," said the official.