The Delhi Government has decided to popularise mosquito-proof coolers (MPCs) in all government offices to keep dengue and chikungunya at bay.

An MPC looks like any other conventional cooler with a little modification in its water tank.

It has a metallic sheet that is put above the water tank inside the cooler, which covers it completely to prevent mosquitoes from entering and breeding there.

“We will ask all the Government offices in the city to go for MPCs. Seventy per cent of mosquito breeding in Delhi has been found in coolers, and MPC does not allow mosquito breeding.

Govt offices

According to MCD, maximum dengue cases have been reported from coolers in government offices,” the Delhi Health Minister, Mr A.K. Walia, said.

“One does not need to buy a new cooler but make small modifications in the existing one that will cost a minimal Rs 500 or so,” Mr Walia said.

An MCD official said, “In the government offices coolers are not cleaned on a regular basis. As such they become excellent breeding grounds for mosquitoes. MPC does not require regular cleaning as does the conventional cooler.”

“The cooler was created in 2007 and till date it does not have many takers because people feel it is expensive.

People are ready to spend on medicines and on fines but are reluctant to pay a meagre Rs 500 to modify the existing coolers,” he said.

Promos

The MCD too has decided to publish advertisements to make people aware about the environment-friendly cooler, which was developed by Mr T.G. Thomas, Joint Director of National Centre for Disease Control, in 2007.

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