Plan to set up research centre on campus; DNCC allocates Tk 122cr for mosquito control
The Dhaka North City Corporation has announced its annual budget for the financial year 2023-24, with a primary focus on addressing the mosquito menace, allocating Tk 121.84 crore for this purpose, which constitutes 2.32 percent of the total budget.
In the previous fiscal year, DNCC allocated Tk 111 crore on mosquito control. However, according to the revised budget, the expenditure on this sector was reduced to Tk 74.84 crore.
For all latest news, follow The My News’s Google News channel. This year’s allocation is significantly higher, approximately 1.5 times more than the expenditure in the last year’s revised budget.
The current budget allocates Tk 84.50 crore for mosquito control activities, including Tk 45 crore for the purchase of mosquito repellents and Tk 30 crore for outsourcing mosquito control measures.
Additionally, Tk 30 crore has been allocated for the procurement of necessary equipment to carry out mosquito control activities. Furthermore, Tk 7.34 crore has been set aside for dengue prevention, cleanliness activities, and campaigns.
Mayor Md Atiqul Islam announced the Tk 5,269.45 crore budget for the fiscal year 2023-24 during a press conference at the DNCC hall room yesterday afternoon.
The previous year’s revised budget was Tk 2,950.98 crore. Experts emphasised the importance of consistent mosquito control efforts throughout the year to make effective use of the allocated budget.
Entomologist and Professor Kabirul Bashar highlighted the need for specific measures to control both Aedes and Culex mosquitoes, which could significantly reduce mosquito-borne diseases if implemented properly.
“As the allocated budget is sufficient, it is crucial to utilise this allocation effectively,” he added.
In the financial year 2022-23, DNCC recorded its highest-ever revenue collection of Tk 1,180.90 crore. The total revenue estimate for the new financial year is Tk 1,830.88 crore.
Meanwhile, to enhance research and eliminate Aedes mosquitoes, DNCC signed a memorandum of understanding with Jahangirnagar University to establish a research centre on the campus.
Besides, as part of their efforts to combat mosquito-borne diseases, DNCC also decided to distribute one lakh books related to mosquito awareness to primary educational institutions within the city’s northern region.
The book, titled “Mosquito Bites Harmful (Moshar Kamor Khotikor),” is a Bangla translation of a book distributed among children in Miami Dade County, USA, containing awareness quotes and relevant illustrations.
