Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has allocated nearly Tk47 crore for mosquito control in the upcoming fiscal year, in a bid to protect residents from mosquito-borne diseases.
The funds will be used to purchase insecticides, machinery, and cover transportation costs. An additional Tk30 crore has been earmarked for cleanliness programs.
The announcement was made during a press conference at the Nagar Bhaban on Monday.
DSCC Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh spoke at the conference, declaring the budget for the fiscal year 2023-24, amounting to a total of Tk6,751.56 crore.
In the revised budget for the previous fiscal year 2022-23, DSCC had allocated Tk30.75 crore for mosquito control.
Actual expenditures amounted to Tk31.10 crore, including Tk29.32 crore spent on insecticides and Tk1.75 crore on foggers, wheels, and spray machines.
An additional Tk2 crore was allocated for mosquito control machinery but only Tk3 lakh was spent.
This year's budget includes an allocation of Tk38.50 crore for mosquito medicines, Tk3.75 crore for foggers, wheels, spray machines, and more than Tk4 crore for purchasing mosquito control machinery.
For the cleaning of canals, water bodies, and waste management, Tk30 crore has been set aside.
Despite allocating Tk15 crore for this purpose in the last fiscal year, the spending reached Tk29.19 crore.
"The spread of mosquitoes, particularly the Aedes mosquito, is a major hindrance in the lives of the residents of Dhaka,” said Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh.
“Since assuming responsibility, we have brought about fundamental changes in mosquito control and management. A year-round integrated mosquito control program has been initiated. This new program ensures the appointment of sufficient manpower, acquisition of quality insecticides and necessary machinery, and guaranteed field-level supply,” he said.
“With the goal of accelerating the mosquito control program, over the last three years, we have purchased 375 new fogger machines for adulticiding, 400 hand-held machines for larviciding, and 25 new wheel machines for the control of Culex mosquitoes,” he added.
