KMC boroughs not ready to combat malaria

Kolkata, June 30 The borough offices under the Kolkata Municipal Corporation are not ready to combat malaria this monsoon. According to MMIC Subodh De: "The work being carried out by various borough offices to control malaria has not been satisfactory. This is because of a staff shortage." Since boroughs 3,7 and 10 are malaria-prone, the KMC has directed these offices to take extra care while executing the malaria control plans.

"We are doing the work carefully. Since some of the wards in my borough are malaria-prone, all preventive measures have been taken. Stagnant water, which is the breeding ground of mosquitoes, has been cleared. We are facing a staff crunch and therefore we have hired labourers on a contractual basis to carry out the work," said Lakshimoni Banerjee, chairman, Borough 7. Aroop Biswas, chairman of Borough 10, however, said: "We have taken all the preventive measures. There is no shortage of staff in my borough. No case of malaria has been reported yet."