By Firstdespatch Desk May 31, 2026
Agartala, May 31 (FD) In a unique community initiative aimed at preventing mosquito-borne diseases, thousands of larvivorous Guppy fish were released into drains and stagnant water bodies along Jagannath Bari Road in Agartala on Saturday as part of an Anti-Mosquito Fish Release and Awareness Drive.
The programme was spearheaded by social activist Sourav Gour in memory of his father, late Sankar Gour, a respected social worker and former secretary of the Red Lotus Club, who was widely known for his contributions to community welfare and social service.
The initiative seeks to promote an environmentally sustainable method of controlling mosquito populations by introducing Guppy fish, which feed on mosquito larvae, into vulnerable water bodies. Organisers said the biological approach offers a safe and effective alternative to chemical-based mosquito control measures and can help curb the spread of diseases such as dengue and malaria.
As part of the drive, volunteers released large numbers of the fish into drainage channels and stagnant water pools identified as potential mosquito breeding sites. The effort was accompanied by an awareness campaign highlighting the importance of maintaining cleanliness and preventing water stagnation in residential areas.
Agartala Press Club President Pranab Sarkar, along with Sourav Gour and members of the Gour family, attended the programme and paid tribute to the late Sankar Gour. Speakers recalled his lifelong dedication to social causes and his efforts to promote communal harmony and public welfare.
Addressing the gathering, the dignitaries lauded the initiative as an innovative preventive healthcare measure and emphasized the importance of community participation in tackling public health challenges. They noted that such grassroots efforts can play a significant role in reducing the incidence of vector-borne diseases and creating greater awareness about environmental sanitation.
Local residents welcomed the campaign and expressed hope that similar community-based programmes would be undertaken in other parts of the city to strengthen public health safeguards.
The initiative reflects a growing awareness of eco-friendly disease-control measures and underscores the role of citizen participation in supporting public health and environmental protection efforts in Agartala. FD JK