Mumbai Corporators Slam BMC Over Fogging Drive As Malaria Cases Rise 11%
Mumbai corporators across party lines have criticized the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) fogging drive during a Standing Committee meeting, alleging that mosquito-control measures exist largely on paper while construction sites with stagnant water remain untreated amid rising malaria cases.
During the committee discussion, Shiv Sena (UBT) corporators demanded that the civic body provide at least one fogging machine for every ward, pointing to stagnant water pools and mosquito larvae found across various construction sites in the city.
Congress corporator Ajanta Yadav stated that fogging efforts must be made more effective, noting that larvae are currently not being eliminated. BJP corporator Shivkumar Jha alleged that repeated calls to the BMC's pest control department go unanswered and that corporators are not informed when fogging teams visit their areas.
BJP corporator Shital Gambhir said civic staff have failed to visit numerous construction sites, including properties that have remained shut for years where mosquitoes breed undisturbed. Gambhir also questioned the reliance on aging fogging machines and asked whether such equipment carries an expiry date.
Leader of the House Ganesh Khankar noted that corporators have raised the issue in three consecutive meetings without any concrete decision being taken by civic authorities.
Standing Committee Chairman Prabhakar Shinde emphasized that mosquito control is critical during the monsoon and over the next two months. Shinde warned that failing to implement preventive measures amounts to negligence and directed officials to submit a detailed report at the upcoming meeting.
According to civic data, Mumbai recorded 3,177 malaria cases between June 1 and August 15, 2026, up from 2,852 cases during the same period in 2025—an increase of 325 cases, or 11.4 percent. Dengue cases declined over the same timeframe from 1,217 to 1,079, reflecting a drop of 138 cases, or 11.3 percent.
