Chennai: Tamil Nadu is conducting a pilot study in Tenkasi to assess whether mosquito-repellent creams can help prevent dengue, said health minister K G Arunraj on Wednesday. He said more domestic breeding checkers would be appointed to intensify door-to-door inspections for mosquito breeding sources. Fogging operations would also be increased. Arunraj said hospitals had been instructed to follow standard treatment protocols for dengue patients.He chaired a meeting with several departments to review monsoon preparedness measures taken in Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar and Royapuram zones.Greater Chennai Corporation officials said that in Royapuram, stormwater drain works covering 1.16km have been taken up, with 474m completed. Desilting of the stormwater drain network has been completed for 26.98km of the 89.07km network. GCC has also completed restoration of 26 of the 33 ponds identified in the zone.In Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar, 8.94km of the 10.38km stormwater drain works taken up have been completed. Of the 1.04km canal improvement works, 910m has been completed. Desilting has been completed in 3,722 of the 8,258 silt-catching chambers in the zone, while work is under way in another 1,592.To tackle waterlogging during the monsoon, 25 electric and eight diesel pumps have been arranged for five subways. Other equipment such as 14 power-saw machines, earthmovers and robotic excavators have been readied, GCC officials said. A total of 13 relief camps and two central kitchens have been set up in case of emergencies.
