HEALTH HAZARD: Residents of Kamineni Nagar in Vijayawada have no escape from mosquitoes that breed on stagnated rainwater and sewage in the area. — PHOTO: RAJU V.

VIJAYAWADA: Located at the far end of Autonagar's 100-ft Road and away from the din of automobile industries, Kamineni Nagar, which has some 100 houses, appears as a picture-perfect colony for any outsider.

But ask the residents of this colony about their life here, and they will explain how harassed they are with mosquitoes that freely breed on stagnated mix of rainwater and sewage.

Spread over a large area in the vacant plots in the colony, the water has no way to flow towards any other direction. The seriousness of stagnation is evident from the weed, which has extensively grown over the water. Some of the houses in the locality stand marooned in the water, and only a narrow path is available to reach the doorstep. Even this path remained under a sheet of water when there were heavy rains.

Recurring problem

Mastan Vali, a mechanic living on one side of the stagnant water, says it is a recurring problem every year but nothing has been done till today. "Usually, rainwater drains out in a matter of few days, but this time it has stagnated after heavy rains. Many people in the colony fell ill due to malaria and even chikungunya," he says.

Md. Ghouse, president of the colony's Residential Welfare Association, points to the "havoc" caused regularly by the Tippagunta drain, which runs close to the colony abutting the Kanuru panchayat.

"The drain has not been cleaned, as a result of which whenever it overflows, the sewage gets into our colony and stagnates. It is a horrible experience for most of the residents of the colony, more so for those living near to the drain," he says.

Mr. Ghouse maintains that the anti-larval operations by civic authorities have been irregular, as a result of which mosquitoes continue to thrive on the stagnant water. A month passed since any spraying or dropping of oil balls has been done, he says.

Underground drainage

One thing that all the residents of the colony seem to rue is the inordinate delay in completion of the proposed underground drainage system for which a tank is being built.

This is meant to end the problem of stagnation of water, as it can take all the water to the sewage treatment plant at Autonagar.

"The work was started three years ago and continues even now," says M. Shiva, a timber merchant, pointing to the heap of pipes left at different places in the colony.

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