VASAI, PALGHAR: Several parts of Vasai taluka as well as the neigbouring areas of Naigaon and Nallasopara are likely to experience flooding this year as well, opine environmentalists, local activists and greens who complain that the administration has failed to take adequate and effective measures in several parts of the city and surrounding areas.

Incessant rain for three continuous days had led to a massive flood-like situation in the entire Vasai-Virar stretch in July 2018. Vasaikars blamed illegal constructions, land-filling and half-constructed bridges in the creek area and natural flood water outlets for the water-logging. The flood water did not abate for several days and in some low-lying areas, residents had to leave their homes and flats and seek refuge elsewhere.

In July 2018, the flood water levels remained high for almost a week, with the electricity supply disrupted for over 40 hours and drinking water supply unavailable for four days. Residents had to wade through waist-deep water to leave their houses for even medicines and supplies.

Over the years, since 2018, not much has changed and promises by the administration to find a solution for the flooding problem have remained just pep-talk. Last year several parts of Vasai and Naigaon experienced floods during the monsoon. And this year too, local social activists and environmentalists fear the same miserable situation which was experienced over the last four to five years. “Nothing has changed,” says Ashley Pereira of Manickpur, adding that only superficial measures have been undertaken, which will fall flat when the skies open up this monsoon as well.

VASAI, PALGHAR: According to several complaints by the residents of the city of Vasai, particularly the Vasai West region and the adjoining areas of Nallasopara seem to be in the grip of a mosquito menace that has suddenly spiralled as the monsoons draw near.

The Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) is blind to the flying menace and several calls to the concerned departments went unanswered. No health department official was willing to speak on the issue and the answer was ‘no comments please’ when this reporter approached various officials.

A senior VVMC official who spoke to this reporter on condition of anonymity, admitted that certain spots were facing an increasing mosquito menace due to the changes in the weather and the approach of the monsoon season, but denied that the problem had reached alarming proportions.

However Vasaikars are not amused and took to social media platforms to complain about the menace. There were several posts by local activists regarding the mosquito problems both in Vasai West as well as in Nallasopara.

The problem is caused by the Culex strain of mosquito, which breeds rapidly in stagnant water in wells, drying ponds, nullahs and in accumulating sewage waste and even in small patches of water like gardening pots, plant pots and similar implements.

Residents have complained that this summer, the mosquitoes are resilient to common pest control measures and are not controlled by several easily available mosquito repellents. According to an estate agent Dominic Pereira of Papdy, his young kids are unable to sleep as the mosquito repellents are not working.

Actor Pearl Angel D’souza whose family lives in the Giriz locality of Vasai West has a similar complaint – she was brutally bitten by mosquitoes who were not at all affected by popular home pest control or mosquito repellents during the few days she spent in Giriz.

Yet another Vasaikar – housewife Sunita Ingale of Holi said she has to use at least three different mosquito repellents to enable her kids to get sleep. “There is load-shedding and there are power outages in the area. It is impossible to get sleep at night due to the mosquitoes and the problem is greatly increased when the power goes off,” Ingale said.

VASAI, PALGHAR: The city of Vasai particularly the Vasai West region and the adjoining area of Naigaon seems to be in the grip of a mosquito menace that has suddenly spiralled.

The Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) is blind to the menace and several calls to the concerned departments went unanswered. No health department official was willing to speak on the issue and the answer was ‘no comments please’.

A senior VVMC official who spoke to this reporter on condition of anonymity, admitted that certain spots were facing an increasing mosquito menace due to the changes in the weather, but denied that the problem had reached alarming proportions.

However Vasaikars are not amused and took to social media platforms to complain about the menace.

The problem is caused by the Culex mosquito which breeds rapidly in stagnant water in wells, drying ponds, nullahs and in accumulating sewage waste.

Residents have complained that this summer, the mosquitoes are resilient to common pest control measures and are not controlled by several easily available mosquito repellents. According to an estate agent Dominic Pereira of Papdy, his young kids are unable to sleep as the mosquito repellents are not working.

Actor Pearl Angel D’souza whose family lives in the Giriz locality of Vasai West has a similar complaint – she was brutally bitten by mosquitoes who were not at all affected by popular home pest control or mosquito repellents during the few days she spent in Giriz.

Yet another Vasaikar – housewife Sunita Ingale of Holi said she has to use at least three different mosquito repellents to enable her kids to get sleep. “There is load-shedding and there are power outages in the area. It is impossible to get sleep at night due to the mosquitoes and the problem is greatly increased when the power goes off,” Ingale said.

VASAI: In what could be an attempt for the first time in Vasai, a hospital is offering residents of the city, over 100 medical, diagnostic and pathological tests completely FREE, during a special medical camp over this weekend.

St Mary Advance Care Hospital situated at Parnaka, Hathi Mohalla, Vasai West in a media note, said they are conducting a mega FREE medical check-up camp within the hospital premises, on Saturday and Sunday, 13th and 14th May and will be offering over 100 different diagnostic and pathological tests free for Vasaikars or residents of Vasai on the two days. One needs to pre-book a test slot or time to avoid overcrowding and chaos. In addition to advanced tests, basic tests for blood pressure (BP), RBS (random blood sugar), BMI, etc., will be done for all attending the weekend camp.

The recently-relaunched St Mary Advance Care hospital is now under the management and supervision of Dr Pranav Kabra – an MD Physician from Mumbai, who also runs three more hospitals in the Mumbai Metropolitan region, including one at Mira Road.

According to Dr Pranav Kabra, the aim of the FREE health camp is to enable Vasaikars to avail of the best diagnostic and pathological tests, without having to worry about exorbitant bills.

“We have relaunched the St Mary Advance Care Hospital with a completely new team of doctors and medical and nursing staff. We are equipped with a state-of-the-art lab for testing and our team of doctors are at par (in terms of expertise and experience) with the best in other well-known and reputed hospitals in Mumbai or for that matter Delhi. When it comes to Vasai, we will be able to offer the best medical care to patients at very reasonable budgets,” a spokesperson for the hospital said.

“We are doing advanced tests like Liver Function Test (LFT), HbA1c, Uric Acid Test, ECG, Creatinine test, as well as testing basic parameters like blood pressure, SpO2 (oxygen concentration in the blood), random blood sugar, BMI, etc.,” the hospital said in a statement, adding that patients can WhatsApp their name, contact number, age and address to 8169903571 to book a test slot, specifying the test they wish to avail off. “We have limited test slots, so of course, it is on first-come-first-served basis,” the press note said.

The St Mary Advance Care Hospital also intends to test residents for lifestyle diseases like diabetes, obesity, hypertension, depression, as well as for cardiac, gastro, liver, kidney and other ailments and diseases. We want a healthy and happy Vasai, says Dr Kabra who believes in the old saying – health is wealth.

VASAI: St Mary Advance Care Hospital situated at Parnaka, Hathi Mohalla, Vasai West is conducting a mega FREE medical check-up camp within the hospital premises itself, on Saturday and Sunday, 13th and 14th May and has offered over 100 different diagnostic and pathological tests free for Vasaikars or residents of Vasai on the two days.

The recently-relaunched St Mary Advance Care hospital is now under the management and supervision of Dr Pranav Kabra, an MD Physician, with over 20 years experience from Mumbai, who also runs three more hospitals in the Mumbai Metropolitan region, including one at Mira Road.

According to Dr Pranav Kabra, the aim of the FREE health camp is to enable Vasaikars to avail of the best diagnostic and pathological tests without having to worry about exorbitant bills. “We have relaunched the St Mary Advance Care Hospital with a completely new team of doctors and medical and nursing staff. We are equipped with a state-of-the-art lab for testing and our team of doctors are at par (in terms of expertise and experience) with the best in other well-known and reputed hospitals in Mumbai. When it comes to Vasai, we will be able to offer the best medical care to patients at very reasonable budgets,” a spokesperson for the hospital said.

“We are doing advanced tests like Liver Function Test (LFT), HbA1c, Uric Acid Test, ECG, Creatinine test, Vitamin B12, as well as testing basic parameters like blood pressure, SpO2 (oxygen concentration in the blood), random blood sugar, BMI, etc.,” the hospital said in a statement, adding that patients can WhatsApp their name, contact number, age and address to 8169903571 to book a test slot, specifying the test they wish to avail off. “We have limited test slots, so of course, it is on first-come-first-served basis,” the press note said.

The St Mary Advance Care Hospital intends to test residents for lifestyle diseases like diabetes, obesity, hypertension, depression, as well as for cardiac, gastro, ENT, liver, kidney and other ailments and diseases.

“We want a healthy and happy Vasai,” says Dr Kabra who believes in the old saying – health is wealth.