DDT doesn't kill the stench, Ms Mayor

BMC to spray banned insecticide that stinks to 'reduce the smell' of debris left behind in desilting drive following residents' complaints

BMC to spray banned insecticide that stinks to 'reduce the smell' of debris left behind in desilting drive following residents' complaints

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation will spray DDT -- a synthetic insecticide that was banned for agricultural use in 1989 following worldwide reports of its harmful effects -- on the debris left behind by their desilting drive, in an effort to reduce the stench. The authorities took the decision after receiving complaints from various resident groups in Khar and Andheri, where the silt has not been cleared from the footpaths, after being removed from the drains. However, the authorities fail to realise that the insecticide is capable of raising quite a stink on its own. Although it kills germs and vectors (such as mosquitoes), it is hardly capable of containing stench.u00a0


Children jump over silt on Malad Link Road. BMC's desilting drive has
left behind piles of muck in many areas. Pic/Nimesh Dave

In humans, studies suggest that DDT causes cancer, affects the human reproductive system and thyroid functioning, and leads to early pregnancy loss. India uses DDT for anti-malaria campaigns, although its agricultural use was banned in 1989 Deputy Chief Engineer of storm water drains, Sunil Railkar told SMD, "We have told the contractors to sprinkle DDT on the silt left on the roads to reduce the smell and kill germs." He added that the silt needed to be left on the road for a few days to dry, before it could be carted away.

The BMC has de-silted three lakh cubic metres from the drains in a drive that started on April 25. Till date, 2.6 lakh cubic meters have been sent to the dumping ground, leaving behind nearly 40,000 cubic metres of silt on the roads. "The amount of silt in the dumping ground is increasing, so the contractors have slowed down the process of taking it to the dumping ground," said Railkar. Khar resident Rohan Moolya said, "It's good if the stench is reduced, but they should pick it up as soon as possible because it has become difficult to walk on the road." MiD DAY had reported last week that residents of K-West, R, and P-North wards had raised complaints about BMC's desilting drive that aims to remove 4,45,611 cubic metres of silt by May 31 (Desilting going down the drain, May 25).

The BMC was to clear 319 km of drains, of which 185 km has been done. Storm water drains chief engineer L S Vhatkar said, "The work is going on in full force and we are hoping that it will be completed by May 31. It may be get delayed by a day or two but this won't affect citizens."u00a0