CHANDIGARH: The Department of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Chandigarh in coordination with Forest Department initiated steps to fight against mosquito borne diseases like malaria, dengue which are common in ongoing season when mosquitoes breed very rapidly causing the spread of these diseases.
The Fisheries department released Mosquito Killer fish (Gambusia) in a pond located at Butterfly Park Chandigarh of the Forest department here on Friday under the guidance of Mr Vinod. P. Kavle, Secretary Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Chandigarh, for preventing malaria/dengue and to maintain ecological balance of stagnant water bodies. It will greatly help in controlling larvae population of various vectors , thus vector borne diseases can be checked. The gambusia fish will also be released in other stagnant water points shortly in coordination with Forest and other related departments.
While appreciating the efforts of Animal Husbandry & Fisheries Department , Dr. Qayum, said that this initiative was taken 4 years before by Animal Husbandry & Fisheries Department and now some migratory birds specially common cormorants, common hen apart from Kingfisher birds are frequently seen. Such sightings are good indicator of local ecology and health of water body located in the Butterfly park and other stagnant water bodies.
Dr. Abdul Qayum, IFS, Deputy Conservator of Forest, Smt. Palika Arora, Director Animal Husbandry and Fisheries and Dr Kanwarjit Singh, Joint Director Animal Husbandry and Fisheries were present on the occasion. Mrs. Palika Arora, stated that the Gambusia released in the water bodies was being produced at Fish Seed Farm at Regulator end of Sukhna Lake functioning under Fisheries Department. The department breeds this fish from April to September and then released these from October onwards as per requirement. She also informed that in the Northern region, Government Fish Seed Farm, Chandigarh at Regulatory end, Sukhna Lake was the only farm which breeded the rare fishes and supplies, free of cost for stocking in stagnant water bodies to prevent mosquito breeding. These fish are known to check the spread of mosquito borne disease like malaria and dengue. Residents are also encouraged to get mosquito fish released in the stagnant ornamental ponds and small swimming pool which are in shady places.
Dr Kanwarjit Singh apprised that the larvivorous efficiency of gambusia was due to its character in which a single full grown fish eats about 100 to 300 mosquito larvae per day. It breed in ponds, wells and smaller water bodies. The problem of mosquitoes breeding in clear water, especially Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which carry the dengue virus, can be controlled in ecological manner through Gambusia fishes. These mosquito fish do not ‘over breed’ and maintain population levels that fit their environment.