Eight spray machines purchased by the Dhaka City Corporation at a cost of about Tk one crore for killing mosquitoes have been gathering dust for about two years now because those were procured without checking their efficacy.

The modern US-made ULV (ultra low volume) spray machines were bought early last year. But the insecticide re-

quired for those is still unregistered with the Plant Protection Wing of the Department of Agriculture.

PPW officials said the insecticide of this category is available in the market but can be used only for agricultural purposes. not for public health programmes.

The machines require a highly concentrated form of in-

secticide which is usually used for aerial spray (not recommended in the WHO standard).

Mounted on vehicles, the machines are highly efficient fpr mosquito control as those jet the liquid' in the air in ultra, microscopic form over an area of about half a kilometre radius, sources said.

The PPW has not yet received any application from the DCC to register the insecticide, an official said.

But the DCC has floated tender at least thrice so far to procure the insecticide.

DCC sources said the decision to buy the spray machines was taken by its Mosquito Control Committee (MCC) despite warnings by entomologists about non-availability of proper insecticide.

"After they found out that the machines could not be used, they tried to run those with other kinds of insecticide, but it failed in field level efficacy tests," said one source.

The efficacy tests were conducted by the MCC which include the Assistant Director of DCC’s Mosquito Control' De-

partment as Member Secretary and its Chief Health Officer, representatives from PPW. Institute of Epidemiological Research and Diseases Control (IEDCR) and Humayun Kabir Commissioner of Ward-59 as members.

The initiative to buy the spray machines was taken by Kamal Chowdhury. Convenor of MCC and Commissioner of Ward-36 (Motijheel area), the sources said.

They also alleged that the procurement price of the machines was shown at a much higher rate than the actual price. In the international market, the price of such a machine is 5.000 to 6,000 US dollars. equivalent to Tk 2.5 lakh to 3 lakh, they claimed.

When contacted, Kamal Chowdhury first admitted that the machines could not be run. due to non-availability of proper insecticide In the country. But he insisted that mosquito menace was not so grave in recent times to use those machines.

When asked whether those machines would be useful in fighting the persistent threat of Dengu fever in the city, he replied in the negative saying. "Mosquitoes carrying the Dengue germ could be found only inside houses, not in open spaces."

When asked why the machines were bought Ignoring warnings by entomologists. Chowdhury replied. "Now that we have the machines, the insecticide would be imported.’

The MCC Convenor however said they have decided that the ULV spray machines would use "SICOFLYING", an adulticide now being used in hand fogging machines. The tests have been satisfactory and we will soon start the drive," he said.

Asked about the price, Chowdhury said. "I will have to look into the flies to tell you the price".