India, June 3 -- A proposal linked to a company owned by Google's parent firm Alphabet has triggered backlash after plans emerged to release tens of millions of bacteria-infected mosquitoes across California and Florida.

The project, led by life sciences company Verily, is seeking federal approval to release up to 32 million modified mosquitoes annually in the two states starting next year.

If approved, the two-year initiative would result in a total of 64 million mosquitoes being released into the environment.

According to reports, the initiative targets Aedes aegypti, a mosquito species known for spreading diseases such as dengue fever, Zika virus, chikungunya and yellow fever.

The plan uses male mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia, ...