Alappuzha: The controversy regarding the 'Dhoom Sandhya' (fumigation eve) organised by Alappuzha municipality on Saturday has not settled yet.

The municipal chairperson explained that this was done with the intention to convey the Covid preventive message to the public. However, the Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad (KSSP) district committee criticised the act as unscientific and unreasonable.

The KSSP also condemned the distribution of Homeo medicine for Covid prevention. Meanwhile, the Ayurveda Medical Association of India came up against the criticism of the KSSP. They stated that the Parishad is trying to frame science and scientificity like religion.

Later, municipal chairperson Soumya Raj put up a Facebook post clarifying the issue. She stated in the post that the fumigation eve was conducted in over 50,000 households in 52 wards of the municipality. The Ayurveda DMO issued a release regarding the benefits of fumigation and others in the medical field supported the move, she pointed out.

However, the controversy erupted after KSSP came up against this. We did not claim that the virus can be eradicated within one day. Homeo preventive medicine was widely given in Eravukad ward during Covid times and it was effective, Soumya Raj said in the post.

Allegations arose that the municipality spent a huge amount for fumigation using an Ayurvedic powder called 'Aparajitha Choornam', which costs Rs 45 for 50 grams. The chairperson said that they delivered this powder at 50,000 households. So, the total cost might be around Rs 22,50,000, it is alleged.