Mosquito menace worsens as monsoon breeds dengue fear

Hyderabad: Mosquito menace is intensifying in several residential pockets of the Cyberabad Municipal Corporation (CMC) and Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation (MMC) limits, with residents complaining that fogging and anti-larval operations are either irregular or failing to cover interior localities.

The issue has become more serious during the ongoing monsoon, as stagnant water in open plots, drains, lakes, quarries and construction sites is providing ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Health authorities have already warned that intermittent rainfall followed by dry spells can create favourable breeding conditions for Aedes aegypti, the mosquito that spreads dengue.

Within the CMC limits, serious mosquito-related complaints have recently emerged from the Manikonda area, particularly around residential clusters such as Kohinoor Enclave and Alkapur Road.

Residents of Kohinoor Enclave have reportedly complained of a persistent mosquito problem, while stagnant water has been identified at locations near Ibrahimbagh Lake, Pandenavagu Nala and EVV Colony. The MMC had also announced a major mosquito-control initiative in April, introducing 10 EV-based fogging machines in the first phase, followed by eight additional machines. Each machine was stated to be capable of covering around 150 km in a single operation and functioning continuously for more than six hours.

Despite the deployment of the new equipment, residents in several areas, including Yapral, Nagaram, Kapra, Safilguda, Moula Ali, Nacharam, Mirzalguda and Cherlapally, continue to complain about mosquito activity and are demanding more frequent fogging, particularly in interior colonies and areas located near stagnant water bodies.

Residents argue that fogging alone cannot solve the problem. They are seeking the identification and elimination of mosquito-breeding sources, cleaning of clogged drains, removal of stagnant water and regular anti-larval operations.

With complaints increasing, residents are demanding that the CMC and MMC publish ward-wise fogging schedules, deploy teams to interior streets and regularly monitor mosquito-breeding hotspots instead of relying mainly on complaint-based action.

G. Kishan, a resident of Tellapur in the CMC limits, said, “Irregular fogging is putting public health at risk. The authorities must ensure timely and regular mosquito-control measures before the problem becomes a serious health crisis.”

Mallamma, a resident of Alwal in the MMC limits, said, “Mosquito control cannot be occasional—it must be consistent. Regular fogging, clean drains and the removal of stagnant water are essential to protect our community from dengue and malaria.”

Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation commissioner T Vinay Krishna Reddy stated that the corporation has approximately 18 EV fogging machines and conducts fogging operations regularly in the evenings. He said mosquito-control teams also carry out spraying at identified breeding points. He added that if any area experiences a high mosquito menace, a dedicated team would be promptly deployed to address the issue.