No slots available on My GHMC app for fogging requests

The fogging request feature on the My GHMC app of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), which was introduced over two months ago, has been a failed attempt so far.

Several people, who tried to book a request on the app for fogging in their respective areas to address the mosquito menace, could not succeed despite multiple attempts.

“The fogging request option was visible on the app. But when I tried to request, I got a message that the slots were full, asking me to try again the next day. I tried multiple times in the consecutive days, but the same message kept reappearing,” Vikram, a resident of Nacharam, shared.

“It seems to me that the GHMC introduced this feature in order to avoid fogging, not to do it,” despairs Mohammed Afzal, a resident of Chaderghat, who had a similar experience.

The corporation launched the feature on My GHMC app in the third week of March this year, to make fogging operation more transparent. Repeated complaints from the corporators about absence of fogging operations in their respective wards, despite GHMC spending crores of rupees on it, led to this initiative.

Users of the app can choose the ‘Fogging Request’ option in the app, which will be forwarded to the assistant entomologist immediately. An entomology worker will be assigned the area, and once the request is fulfilled, a photo of the operation will be uploaded along with the geo-coordinates as a proof. Once an area is fogged, restrictions will be in place for a week against repeating the operation at the same place.

The number of slots, however, would be available based on the availability of staff in the area, the GHMC said. This caveat has become the norm now for many users who tried the option.

“Tried raising a mosquito complaint on the GHMC app — but it says “slots full for today.” Meanwhile, Deverakonda Basti is drowning in mosquitoes and no fogging is being done. What’s the point of a complaint system that doesn’t take complaints?” questioned Asad Khan, on social media platform X, as recently as on May 25.

“For the last 1 week trying to book fogging but this message always appears. I doubt if this is working correctly and if ok then I think ghmc shud increase work force to cater the needs of people’s grievances [sic],” Mohammed A. Khaleel, another user posted from Tolichowki.

Officials from the Entomology wing clarified that the feature is still in test phase. “After Jubilee Hills, we are testing the feature in one ward in each zone,” informed an official. There is also machinery shortage for full fledged implementation, a senior official said.

All areas along the Musi river belt are thick with mosquitoes which have grown immune to fogging, according to the admission of GHMC’s officials. Besides being expensive due to deployment of vehicles, and fuel, the fogging operations also use chemicals which are harmful to human health. However, pressure from local leaders and corporators keeps the corporation focus more on fogging, rather than the anti-larval operations, which are more effective in control of mosquitoes.

Published - June 07, 2025 08:46 pm IST