the goan I network
MARGAO
With dengue raising its ugly head in the commercial capital, the Margao Municipality has procured portable fogging machines to supplement the efforts of the health centre to keep the mosquitoes at bay.
City Fathers, however, have a question or two for the Municipal administration whether they are properly equipped to undertake fogging operations in the dengue prone areas. In fact, councillors Suganda Bandekar and Raju Shirodkar have contested the use of the insecticide used in the fogging machine, saying the exercise has not been as effected as that carried out by the Margao Urban Health Centre.
Councillor Suganda and Raju maintained that the fogging done by the MMC workers did not emit even any odour, making them wonder whether the civic workers are carrying out the operation as per the laid down norms. “We have only seen the smoke billowing from the areas fogged by the civic workers. There was no smell of any chemical or insecticide around the areas where fogging was carried out,” Suganda maintained.
The two councillors also raised the question over the delay in using the portable fogging machines given that a dengue scare has hit many parts of the city.
Acting Margao Municipal Chairperson Tito Cardozo, however, has begged to differ. He pointed out that the workers engaged in the fogging operations in the city have all been trained under the guidance of the health officials. “It was only after our workers underwent training under the Health office, they were deputed for the fogging work,” Tito said. He, however,
has promised to verify whether the workers are not using the insecticides as per the specifications.
