Last year, during the Dengue season, 200 fogger machines and five vehicle mounted fogger machines were purchased but the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has not been able to make the optimum use of these equipment.
Reportedly, the machines catch fire after they are started. These were bought without proper testing which has resulted in a loss of Tk 45 million.
It’s believed that sparks come out of the nozzles of the fogger machines when started. DNCC sources say that last season, DNCC bought some machines without tenders but with approval from the ministry.
The proposal sent to the ministry at that time used the rationale that to prevent Dengue and Chikunguniya, fogger machines need to be bought on an urgent basis.
The company which supplied the machines could not be contacted. Several workers of DNCC who operate the foggers say: “The earlier ones from France were better and the current ones, purportedly from Germany, are ineffective.”
Reportedly, the 200 swing fogging machines have also developed problems and some are inoperative.
We use diesel instead of kerosene in the machines which create too much smoke and often, the machines stop working, said workers.
DNCC’s chief procurement officer, Md. Sagir added: “We do not have any hand in this and buy machines recommended by the purchase committee.”