Potholes on Salt Lake's roads have turned into perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes following spells of road.
The number of dengue and malaria cases — both diseases are spread by mosquitoes — is on the rise in the township.
According to figures released by the health department of the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation (BMC), more than 145 fresh cases of dengue have been reported in the past couple of weeks.
Health teams from the civic body that conduct door-to-door visits across the township have also been reporting an increase in the number of malaria cases in all three sectors of Salt Lake, a senior official of the BMC’s health department said.
The count does not take into account the number of positive cases recorded by private healthcare facilities.
On Saturday, The Telegraph spotted several puddles that had mosquitoes buzzing around them.
The biggest such pool had formed near the Salt Lake stadium’s gate number 3.
Mosquitoes were spotted buzzing around the pool, which measures at least 12 feet in length and over 6 feet in width.
A leaky hydrant, which residents said have not been repaired for months, is feeding the pool.
That apart, big puddles and piles of garbage were seen in many places, including EC Block (opposite City Centre) and near the main gate of tank number 9.
Mosquitoes were buzzing along the banks of the Eastern Drainage Canal, which cuts across Salt Lake.
Last year, many dengue cases had been recorded in Rajarhat, Kestopur, Salt Lake, Chinar Park and other areas.
Cluster infections had been reported from many Salt Lake blocks and wards, including 29, 31, 33 and 34.
Banibrata Banerjee, mayoral council member in charge of health, said the civic body has launched a clean-up drive, as part of which garbage was cleaned and weeds and bushes were cut and removed.
Rapid response teams made of workers from various departments, including health, solid waste management and vector control, are moving around the township and spraying larvicide, Banerjee said.
Public health experts have repeatedly warned against accumulation of freshwater. The dengue-spreading Aedes mosquito can breed even in a spoonful of water.
It takes a week for an Aedes egg to turn into an adult mosquito. So experts are urging residents to ensure that stagnant water is drained out at least once a week.
