Mumbai, April 27 (IANS) In a welcome development for Mumbai residents, builders and developers in the metropolis have been urged to keep their construction sites free from the mosquitoe menace before the onset of the monsoon this year.

In a letter   to its 1,000-plus members, Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry president Sunil Mantri has stressed the need to adhere to the guidelines of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) to keep construction sites mosquito-free.

"We had taken adequate measures last year in this regard. We also donated mosquito nets to the MCGM last year. We must come forward with similar assistance this year also," Mantri urged his members.

Municipal Commissioner Subodh Kumar recently held a meeting of the MCGM's "Mosquito Abatement Committee" and reviewed the anti-malaria campaign in the city.

He stressed upon the need for proactive efforts from all - the civic administration, semi-government bodies and the building industry - to adopt a unified strategy for eliminating mosquito breeding at various places, especially construction sites.

In the wake of these directions, the MCHI has called upon its members to adopt various measures and ensure that all their work sites mosquito-proof, besides maintaining hygienic conditions for the construction workers.

The sites should be made mosquito-proof by April 30, and the measures would be strengthened by May 30, just before the monsoon is expected to hit Mumbai in the first week of June.