Canal work in New Town cuts dengue cases 90%

In New Town, Kolkata, a project to clean canals has greatly reduced dengue cases. Since July 2024, the New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) has desilted over 20 canals and drainage channels, totaling about 52 kilometers. Officials reported that this effort led to a 90% drop in dengue cases last year, with only 37 cases recorded. In contrast, there were 348 cases in 2023. NKDA plans to continue these cleaning activities in May and September of this year, and again in January 2026. There are 19 drainage channels around the New Town area. While these canals help with drainage, they can also foster mosquito breeding. The desilting project began last July and is nearing completion. Future efforts will involve removing plants, silt, and waste from the canals. Additionally, some canals will be covered with concrete structures. This change aims to keep the canals clean and reduce standing water, which attracts mosquitoes. Authorities are focused on maintaining cleanliness to prevent the spread of diseases like dengue.