The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : No shine left in Prakash Nagar, it simply stinks

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 20, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

No shine left in Prakash Nagar, it simply stinks

By Vikram Sharma

Prakash Nagar Road is always congested with vehicles parked at will, posing problems for residents. Photo: P.V. Sivakumar

HYDERABAD, MAY 19. Overpowering stench from open manholes, swarming mosquitoes, auto trolleys, two and four-wheelers parked everywhere in the narrow lane, some parked right in front of houses, and potholes on the tarred surface. Welcome to Prakash Nagar in Begumpet.

Residents of the colony have been breathing foul smell -- all 365 days -- for the last several years. As soon as the sun sets, the killer mosquitoes are out, in full strength, forcing residents to stay indoors. For those who do not have mosquito mesh, it is nightmare.

"Covering manholes is not our job," is what the MCH authorities are said to have told residents when they approached them. To add to their woes, a bakery has come up at the dead end of the lane, which has found an easy way to dump waste material.

Those running the bakery have managed to build a passage from their premises, which ends up in one of the open manholes. All the waste material from the bakery gets accumulated in the manhole which, in turn, leads to unbearable stench. "For the last several years, these manholes have remained uncovered. Only god knows how we are surviving. The waste from the bakery results in mosquito menace," says a resident, Vasudev Bitra, now and then covering his nose.

A housewife, Chandrakanti, who resides in the same lane, complains: "We are unable to breathe. The smell is so overpowering that we can't open our doors and windows for fresh air." The woes of the residents do not end here.

With cargo offices located in and around the locality, people park vehicles at will. Some persons park vehicles right in front of the houses, making it difficult for residents to get their vehicles out.

"What more? Potholes and innumerable speed-breakers ensure that you have a bumpy and risky ride. It is high time the civic authorities took some action," Mr. Bitra says.

Readers are welcome to write about the civic problems in their

areas to the City Editor, The Hindu, Begumpet, Hyderabad-16

or email to hydlife@thehindu.co.in

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