The new hand-driven automatic fogging machines procured by the Cuttack Municipal Corporation to tackle mosquito menace in the city. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Dec. 4: The civic body’s customary anti-mosquito fogging operations are behind schedule, leading to manifold increase in mosquito menace in the city.

“We have to suffer from mosquito bites not only during the night, but also in the day. The problem has now assumed serious proportion both indoors and outdoors,” said Telenga Bazar resident Pradeep Sahu.

“The menace has increased due to the absence of anti-mosquito fogging. We have to use at least three mosquito repellent coils a day now,” said Jobra resident Ansuman Das.

Mosquito control measures are largely inadequate in most parts of the city due to the Cuttack Municipal Corporation’s low levels of fogging. The fogging drive is usually launched in the last week of September.

“The regular pre-winter anti-mosquito fogging operations had been delayed due to inclement weather conditions. Simultaneous fogging operations at all the 54 wards during evening hours on a daily basis have already been planned after procurement of the new hand-driven automatic fogging machines. It will be launched shortly,” mayor Saumendra Ghose told The Telegraph today.

A civic body official said the fogging had been undertaken in July due to the dengue outbreak in the city. After there was decline in dengue cases, the operations were suspended on September 5.

Sporadic dengue cases are still being reported from few wards.

“An intensive fogging drive had been undertaken for 45 days following the dengue outbreak in July, while spot-fogging was done at specific wards where dengue cases were again reported in November,” said city health officer P.K. Pradhan.

Sources said the fogging drive following the dengue outbreak was by and large limited to less than 10 of 54 wards in the city from where dengue cases were reported. Nearly 50 per cent of the 53 hand-held fogging machines with the corporation lie defunct.

The mayor, however, claimed that now, there was adequate number of fogging machines to undertake simultaneous operations at all the wards.

The civic body had purchased 30 new hand-driven automatic fogging machines a month ago and planned to intensify the operations by procuring two vehicle-mounted fogging machines.