Boat owners and operators using beaches to park their vessels need to keep them covered to avoid them turning into breeding sites for mosquitoes. Almost all the boats taking a break due to the fishing ban are left uncovered leading to collection of rainwater in them. Subsequently mosquito and other insect larvae are seen in them which could stoke malaria or dengue. As it is we are grappling with Covid 3.0 and God forbid the danger of monkeypox taking root in the state. Even fishing trawlers, joy ride boats and water sports operators vessels are left uncovered and parked haphazardly on the sand. Owners of mechanized boats anchored at various jetties should also be directed to sheath their vessels to avoid them being the progenitors of vector-borne disease. If required, the government should bring out an ordinance or other such suitable legislation to enforce this much on the lines of mandatory tarpaulin shelter for open top goods trains wagons and lorries transporting sand. We don't want another public health emergency in these trying times.
