Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam   

Eyesore and health hazard

Filled with filth: A stagnant drain surrounded by garbage at Velampeta area of One Town in Visakhapatnam. Photo: K.R. Deepak

VISAKHAPATNAM: Come rainy season, overflowing drains are a common occurrence. That they are an eyesore is the minor side of the problem. One shudders at thought of the health hazards they may cause.

But some of the problems are specific to parts of the city. Velampeta in the One Town area is generally flooded following rain and drains overflow. The waterlogging of drains is prevalent in nine wards, admit officials. They are 5,6,8,9,11,12,13,17 and 19.

Since Poorna Market is nearby, in the thickly populated Velampeta and in the area adjoining the Municipal Stadium, garbage piles up fast. Apart from garbage, the easy availability of disposable cups is adding to the problem.

It's easy to implement people-participatory sanitation programmes in parts of the city where the residents are responsive. In the other areas also people are involved. But the density of population, carrying out petty businesses in the open and poor living conditions add to the load of work.

Still there is no dearth of effort to clean up the area, say officials. Every Monday, 420 workers from 10 wards are mobilised for sanitation work in Velampeta and the stadium area. But the accompanying picture taken on Tuesday afternoon shows a stagnant drain with garbage all around.

The problem relating to drains is linked to the tide in the sea, according to officials. In the mornings when the tide comes in, the drains are stagnant. When the tide is out, the water ebbs away.

That explains the stagnant drain. But what about the garbage around it?

If it is taken out from the drain, it must have been lifted from there.

The adage that prevention is better than cure holds good here.

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