Pune: Intermittent spells of rain interspersed with warm and humid weather this monsoon have created ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes across Pune, with residents in several localities reporting a noticeable rise in their numbers.“We are fed up with the mosquitoes. It’s only the beginning of the monsoon, but there are many mosquitoes already. We are also hearing of many people who have recently contracted dengue,” said Jitendra Khanna, a resident of Wanowrie.Stagnant rainwater in clogged drains, construction sites and water storage tanks has accelerated mosquito breeding, prompting housing societies to intensify fogging and larvicide measures.“We have advised housing societies to undertake preventive measures such as fumigation every 15 days and to keep their premises clean to prevent water stagnation,” said Dattatray Deshmukh, president of the Pimpri Chinchwad Housing Societies Federation.Residents are also adopting various measures to keep mosquitoes away from their homes, including using camphor candles, citronella sticks and automated insecticide dispensers.“Both camphor and citronella help repel mosquitoes, so we use both to keep them away. We have installed citronella dispensers throughout the house,” said Darshan Solanki, a resident of Hadapsar.Suhas Patwardhan, president of the Pune District Housing and Apartments’ Federation, said, “We are creating awareness among housing societies about mosquito prevention. Stagnant water should not be allowed to accumulate, and waste management must be carried out properly.”Leena Gowda, a resident of Kothrud, said mosquitoes had become a daily nuisance after the intermittent rains.“In the evenings, we have to keep our doors and windows closed because mosquitoes enter the house. We use a combination of neem and lemongrass oil in diffusers to keep them away,” she said.“We have a large terrace with many potted plants, so water often collects in the pot trays, creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes. We make a conscious effort to empty the trays regularly to prevent their breeding,” said Shashwat Rathod, a resident of Bavdhan.A manager of a housing society in Pashan said, “We regularly fumigate the lobby and corridors on every floor to prevent mosquito breeding. We also had the water tank cleaned and have instructed the maintenance staff to monitor for waterlogging during the monsoon.”
