LUCKNOW: A small fry from the coastal belt of India could prove a potent weapon in the battle against the menace of Japanese encephalitis in eastern Uttar Pradesh. This small killer fish, Gambusia, is known for devouring mosquito larvae - 100 to 300 per day. So, the UP government has added it to its armoury for controlling mosquitoes, which are primary responsible for the spread of the dreaded disease that has claimed more than 5,000 lives in the past seven years.

The growth of water hyacinth-like plants in Mithi river near the international airport in Andheri has turned the stretch into a breeding ground for mosquitoes, complain civic activists. While activists blame water blockage due to on-going construction of two bridges (Lathia Rubber and MTNL) over the river in Chimatpada leading to the plants’ growth, experts feel even the increasing pollution levels along this stretch has triggered the problem.

NewDelhi:Delhi is under attack from the Culex mosquito, persistent biters whose numbers are known to grow exponentially at dawn and dusk. Alarm bells were rung after a “very high density” of these mosquitoes was reported in the past two weeks. The spurt, reported by the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, made MCD call an emergency meeting on March 27 with officials from Delhi, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurgaon and Noida. They plan to launch a massive exercise to cover open drains or “blast” them with the bio larvicide, BTI, with the help of pressure tanks.