(MENAFN - Muscat Daily) Muscat Municipality's pest control services for homes provided on request for free may soon be withdrawn while the authorities will continue the drive outdoors.

The reasons that have made the municipality contemplate stopping home services include inculcating in people the habit of maintaining cleanliness in their homes. Also municipal teams are sometimes given a tough time by home owners who despite requesting the service have doubts over health risks from the pesticides used officials say.

Rashid al Hinai deputy director of health affairs for the municipality's Seeb directorate said 'Muscat Municipality is planning to stop pest control services for homes provided on request. Those wanting the service can contact private companies; we can suggest them which firms to approach.'

While the free home services to battle cockroaches rodents and sometime bed bugs are given on call the municipality is regular with its monthly outdoor pest control drives said Mufeed Abdullah Saif Alkalbani pest control specialist in the municipality's directorate of health.

Hinai said 'Indoor pests are a result of unhealthy practices. If people maintain cleanliness they won't have to knock on the municipality's doors. We will continue outdoor pest control. Mosquitoes and flies increase depending on the season and if we control the source of these pests outdoors they are automatically controlled indoors. If we stop people will get into the habit of keeping their homes clean.'

Carrying out pest control in homes is an expensive affair he said. 'We invest money manpower and time. People register complaints but when our teams reach their homes they are reluctant to open the doors. Teams have been made to wait out for 20 to 30 minutes before being let in.'

Another issue is people's doubts Hinai said. 'They want to know if it's safe. They fear the pesticides may stain their walls. This despite the fact that we use the best quality.'

The municipality says it uses approved methods to control pests like mosquitoes houseflies cockroaches and rodents - all harmful to public health.

The municipality's Directorate of Health Affairs has taken to Twitter to keep its more than 20000 followers informed about ways to control pest infestation at home.<