Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to deploy drones to control mosquito menace in the city, a BMC source said Friday.
The source added that the drones will be employed in areas where mosquitoes breed. Primarily, the drones will be dispatched to hard-to-reach spots such as abandoned plots, drains, narrow lanes, and slums, the source added.
However, the exact number of drones to be deployed and the duration of their operations in inaccessible areas are yet to be determined.
Moreover, the source informed that the municipal body has opted to slap a fine of Rs1,000 on residents if potential breeding sites for dengue mosquitoes are identified on their premises. Similarly, the fine for commercial establishments and institutions would amount to Rs5,000. The collection of fines from non-compliant households and establishments will commence from August 15, according to the source.
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The civic body has called for public engagement and participation in curbing the breeding of dengue mosquitoes in the city.
Notably, BMC last year also employed drones on an experimental basis for the dispersion of chemicals to control mosquito populations in Bhubaneswar.
PNN