Drones to spray larvicides for mosquito control in Kochi corporation

Kochi: In a novel initiative, Kochi corporation has procured two drones to spray larvicides for mosquito control. According to sources with corporation, drones will reduce time required for spraying as well as increase its efficiency.A drone will be able to complete spraying of larvicide in three acres within 25 minutes. Drones can reach areas which are inaccessible to workers. “There are limitations for workers to go to marshy areas and boundaries of canals. Moreover, drone use can cut down time required for spraying larvicide significantly. Experimental flying of the drones will be held on Saturday,” said a source.Manufacturer of the drone itself will take care of maintenance for two years.

Moreover, the firm will impart training to six persons deployed by corporation to operate drones.Corporation has procured larvicide as per vector control committee headed by officials from district medical office. As per their recommendations, corporation has brought a different type of larvicide. “When we use a specific type repeatedly for a few years, mosquitoes will become immune to larvicide causing a dip in its efficacy.

That’s why we change the type of larvicide every few years,” a corporation official said.In 2021-22 budget, corporation authorities had promised that a comprehensive study with the support of geographic information system (GIS) would be conducted to understand seasons of breeding and density of larvae in different areas in the city. The promise was that the study would be completed with support of researchers within three months.

Though it has been lagged, corporation has now completed the study in seven divisions.

“This will come handy for us in utilising drones. It is in these divisions that we will be operating the drones first,” the source said.Corporation is earmarking Rs 10 crore to Rs 20 crore a year for mosquito control measures. This includes salary for workers who are deployed for waste management and cleaning. Around 1,200 workers including contingency workers and those being hired on a daily basis are there to engage in mosquito reduction activities.