DEVELOPING LARVIVOROUS FISH NETWORK FOR MOSQUITO CONTROL IN URBAN AREAS:

In India, malaria had been considered predominantly a problem of rural areas and the activities of the National Anti Malaria Programme (NAMP) were largely rural oriented. While in cities with over 40,000 populations, malaria control activities were expected to be implemented by the local bodies1. At present there is an alarming situation due to the rising trend in mosquito-borne diseases in urban areas. The escalation in the incidence of these diseases is closely related to unplanned urbanization, increase in water storage practices resulting in the creation of favourable habitats for vector proliferation, development of commerce and industrialization, and influx of labour from rural to urban areas2,3. In urban agglomeration, both man-made and natural habitats provide ideal conditions conducive fo