The sting should be on local bodies

By V.K. Wijeratne, Panadura

Your page one story in The Sunday Times of September 24 “New sting in anti-mosquito law” prompts me to pen these few lines.

While tough legislation to prevent mosquito breeding is both essential and welcome, it has to be pointed out that the local authorities are the bigger culprits in this regard.

Both roadside drains of Sri Mahavihara Road that run opposite my house are not regularly maintained by the Urban Council. Water is stagnant in both these drains. There are hardly any properly built-up drains in the entire UC area and as a result rain water and waste water that flows from households do not flow freely through the roadside drains.

The UC deploys few workers to clean up these clogged drains once in two or three months or whenever a resident complains.

The proposed legislation should be an eye-opener to the local authorities more than the residents.