Winter gone, snake sightings back in New Town, complex residents take guard
Times of India | 11 March 2024
Kolkata: With the onset of summer, snakes have started making a comeback in New Town as multiple residents living in gated complexes and residential blocks in the township complain of snake sightings. Last year, two youths died of snakebite in the township as there had been multiple snake sightings on a daily basis.
A few days back, a full grown snake was seen at New Town DE block on street number 324.Again another snake was spotted near the main gate of Aliah University as the residents informed the New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) as well as the local forest department authorities to rescue the snakes.
The resident welfare associations of different housing societies have been continuing to take measures to keep snakes away from their complexes. “Chemicals are regularly being sprayed inside our housing complex premises,” said Kakoli Saha, a resident of Mallika Malancha housing complex.
“Carbolic acid as well as other anti-venom chemicals are regularly sprayed within the housing complex by the residents’ association and the underground drainage lines within the housing complex premises, where snakes can be present, are being regularly cleaned,” said Subho Dasgupta of Moonbeam housing complex.
NKDA officials said all the emergency snake bite treatment measures—that were earlier put in effect—were still in place in New Town. Officials said preliminary snake bite treatment, including anti-venom serum, was available in the NKDA-run urban primary health centers. Also, a 24-hour emergency snake bite treatment facility with a few beds was available at CNCI Hospital, New Town. The authorities had issued a general guideline for management of snake bite incidents.
Some of the housing societies in New Town have organised workshops conducted by herpetologists.