The Coimbatore Corporation has issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) for construction companies and private building owners, mandating a series of preventive measures to curb mosquito breeding and prevent the spread of dengue across the city’s 100 wards.
In a statement, Commissioner Katta Ravi Teja said anti-mosquito operations are being carried out continuously across the city. As prevailing weather conditions are conducive to the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes, which transmit dengue, builders and property owners have been directed to strictly adhere to the prescribed guidelines.
The SOP mandates all water storage tanks and plastic drums at construction sites remain covered, while tanks and containers should be cleaned regularly with bleaching powder or lime before being refilled. Water stagnation in lift pits should be prevented, and where unavoidable, bleaching powder or used engine oil should be applied to prevent mosquito larvae from developing.
Construction sites should also be kept free of discarded plastic materials, paper cups, polythene bags, eggshells, coconut shells, paint cans, broken pots, plastic pipes, polystyrene, bottles and other waste that can collect rainwater. Equipment such as mortar pans and wheelbarrows should be cleaned daily and stored without allowing water to accumulate, while wastewater should not be allowed to stagnate around buildings. The civic body has also directed that temporary sheds at construction sites should not be used to store unnecessary materials, particularly tyres, which can become mosquito breeding grounds.
The Corporation has instructed construction firms to maintain hygienic conditions in temporary labour camps and ensure the proper disposal of food containers and other waste generated by workers. Builders have also been asked to extend full cooperation to the Corporation staff engaged in dengue prevention activities.
The Commissioner added that the SOP must be followed without exception and warned that building owners or managements found violating the prescribed norms would face legal action under the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Public Health Act, 1939.
Published – July 12, 2026 05:48 pm IST
