NEA to fine town council after mosquito larvae found in water tanks

SINGAPORE: Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) said it plans to impose a fine on the Sembawang—Nee Soon Town Council after water tanks in Woodlands Drive 50 were found to be mosquito breeding grounds.

In a statement to Channel NewsAsia, the Town Council said seven out of 12 tanks in two blocks were found to be mosquito breeding grounds. The seven water tanks, on Blocks 896C and 899A, contained about 14 larvae.

The town council said the larvae were found between the water tank covers and the concrete tank itself. The tanks were then washed and flushed, and the gaps sealed, after the larvae was detected.

It added all 800 or so blocks under the purview of the town council have been checked.

It is rare for water tanks to be mosquito breeding grounds. This last happened in 2007.

Woodlands Drive 50, along with Woodlands Avenue 4 and Woodlands Ring Road, have been found to be a dengue cluster, the second largest cluster so far this year.

57 people in the area have contracted dengue fever in the area this year alone.

—CNA/ac