Chennai, Sept 28:
The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has intensified its dengue prevention measures with a special cleanliness and mosquito-control drive covering 1,534 schools across all 15 zones of the city. The operation was conducted on September 26 as part of efforts to eliminate potential mosquito-breeding spots in educational institutions.
GCC teams removed a total of 8,351 kg of unwanted materials and discarded tyres from school premises during the drive. Of this, 7,419 kg comprised unwanted materials that could collect stagnant water, while another 932 kg of discarded tyres were cleared from the campuses. Such discarded materials can hold rainwater and create suitable breeding conditions for mosquitoes.
The civic body deployed around 3,214 workers for the citywide operation. The campaign covered 635 government and Corporation-run schools and 899 private schools, ensuring that educational institutions across all 15 GCC zones were included in the preventive exercise.
Apart from removing waste, mosquito-control measures were also undertaken at the school premises. The GCC deployed 262 fogging and larvicidal spraying machines as part of the operation to control mosquito populations and reduce the possibility of mosquito-borne diseases.
The Corporation has now extended similar preventive measures to college campuses across Chennai. Civic officials have asked educational institutions to regularly inspect their premises and ensure that rainwater does not remain stagnant in discarded articles, tyres, containers or other areas.
Schools and colleges have also been advised to maintain proper sanitation and create awareness among students, teachers and parents about dengue prevention and other vector-borne diseases. The civic body’s latest drive assumes significance with the city entering a period of increased rainfall, when stagnant water can create additional mosquito-breeding sites.