Sambalpur: Mosquito menace here is increasing day by day to an extent of unbearable level. People are using mosquito repellent coil and liquid even during the day time.
Local residents alleged that the problem compounded due to negligence and lackadaisical attitude of the Sambalpur Muncipal Corporation authorities.
Drains at various areas of the town are filled with garbage as a result of which there is water logging which is an ideal condition for mosquito breeding, said a local resident.
"The corporation is not taking any steps to clear the drains or use anti-larva oil in the water-logged drains. I have never seen them using anti larva oil," said Jiten Raiguru a resident of Dhanupali.
Private nursing homes and government offices are also using mosquito repellent coils and liquid during the day.
Lack of maintenance and damaged water pipelines result in leakage and water stagnation at various places of the town.
In 2014, the town witnessed an outbreak of serious jaundice resulting death of more than 30 people. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik had to rush to Sambalpur to review the measures taken up by the administration to contain the disease. A special grant of Rs 200 crore was announced to replace and repair damaged pipelines.
"It is high time, the corporation and the public health department should take immediate steps to check water pollution and clean the drains, otherwise it will be a rerun of 2014 situation," said another resident Raju Mitra.
Residents fear that infestation of mosquitoes will lead to an outbreak of dengue and malaria.
Each year numerous malaria and dengue cases are reported in Sambalpur.
Sambalpur health officer Mahendra Nanda admitted that the lone fogging machine is out of order and they have only three hand machines.
With only three manual fogging machines covering 41 wards, including towns Hirakud and Burla, situated 20 km from here, is not feasible.
A resident of Burla said: "We have never seen any fogging machine or application of anti-larva oil in our drains. We are being neglected as the municipal corporation is far from our the area."
