File picture of pesticides being sprayed to tackle the caterpillar menace.

Cuttack, May 4: Residents of Kazi Bazar have now heaved a sigh of relief as “mission caterpillar” of the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) is over.

The pests were controlled only after an intense operation that lasted for nearly 10 days and the pond in the locality, which had become a breeding ground for caterpillars, has now been sanitised.

“We had immediately initiated measures to control pests in the area. Following a massive drive, the entire region and the affected pond have been sanitised,” said medical officer of health (MFCP) Jogeswar Pani.

Everyday four spraying machines were used to sprinkle powerful pesticides in every nook and corner of Mohanty Lane, Sahib Lane and Masjid Lane of Kazi Bazar.

Later, efforts were initiated to clean up unwanted bushes and other grasses that had grown in abundance along the pond. Around eight employees were engaged on a daily basis in the entire operation.

Moreover, steps would be taken to ensure as to how the pond could be reused so that the residents did not have to suffer the same problem again, Pani said.

The residents had been facing problems due to the caterpillar menace in the area for nearly a month. Moreover, urgent steps were initiated to tackle the situation after The Telegraph had published a report regarding the issue on April 25.

“We are happy now. The caterpillars had made our lives miserable for almost a month. We are thankful to the authorities that swung into action and initiated steps to control the pests here after The Telegraph had published a report on our plight,” said secretary of the Kazi Bazar Mohalla Committee S.M. Zeeshan.

“It became hard for us to complete our daily chores as most of the time had been lost in tackling the caterpillars entering our homes and creating a lot of troubles. Moreover, we were forced not to allow our children to move out of the homes fearing the pests,” said Farzana Begum (55), another local resident.

On the other hand, local councillor Abdul Mallik said that steps would be taken to clean up the pond so that the problem was rooted out.

“The caterpillars had made lives of the residents miserable. However, steps were initiated to tackle the pests and only after a long operation the entire region is now free from the caterpillars,” said Mallik.

“We have also discussed the issue to clean up weeds in the pond so that residents can reuse it. The work is expected to begin shortly,” said Mallik.