Bhubaneswar, Dec. 6: Demonetisation is not the only pain plaguing Narendra Behera. He's also anxious about the sharp sting of mosquitoes.

The 34-year-old finance executive, who stays at Jharpada, said that with the onset of winter, the number of mosquitoes has risen sharply.

"It has become a nightmare to sit out in the open during the evening hours," he said. No amount of mosquito repellents and sprays seem to be enough to stop the little winged Draculas. Behera said the problem of mosquitoes is persistent because of open drains and heaps of waste on the roadside.

State government employee Manoranjan Kar, 57, who stays at GGP Colony, echoed Behera. "It is usually expected that mosquitoes will breed more during rains. However, with the onset of winter, the number of mosquitoes has risen sharply," he said, adding that the residents of his locality were using all tactics to fight the menace.

"The local grocer told me that the sale of mosquito coils, sprays and machines has gone up sharply. He, too, is bothered by the mosquitoes but the rise in the sale of mosquito repellents is at least some consolation for him" Kar joked.

The sting of mosquitoes is being felt across the city, and the dip in temperature is not helping.

Medicine specialist G.C. Satapathy explained that the moderate temperature in Bhubaneswar during winter was actually the ideal atmosphere for mosquitoes to breed. "Mosquitoes, especially the ones responsible for causing dengue (aedes aegypti) and malaria (female anopheles) cannot breed once temperatures dip below 16 degrees Celsius. Hence, there is a rise in number of mosquitoes in the city during this time of the year," he said.

Dr Satapathy said the only way to combat the menace was to keep the city clean and prevent water stagnation. Residents have been complaining about lack of fogging in their localities. "The corporation should undertake fogging to control the mosquito menace. It should ensure that the residential localities across the city are kept clean. However, the civic body seems to be least bothered," said Baramunda resident Manish Swain.

However, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation city health officer Chandrika Prasad Dash claimed that the civic body had started fogging in the localities. "Fogging is being done in at least two wards of the city every day. We will cover more wards on a daily basis once more mosquito repellent oil used for fogging machines is procured," he said.

Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena said the civic body would shortly identify spots that provided ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes. "Sanitary agencies have been instructed to fight the menace," he said.