VIJAYAWADA: Vacant lands, which have turned into dumping yards, in a thickly populated residential area like Subba Rao Colony, has been giving sleepless nights to the residents. Some section of residents in the locality claim that situation gets worse during the monsoon, as the vacant lands will be filled with stagnant water and sewage posing a major health hazard to people’s health. Though dog menace was reported in most of the areas, it was acute in this locality due to the dumping of waste in vacant lands by roadside eateries. Huge quantities of waste attract dogs from various parts of the city.
Dust, water stagnation and potholes on the roads are making life tough for motorists. Recently, two autorickshaws got stuck in a huge pothole that was filled with rain water on Mahanadu Road adjacent to the colony, says K Damayanti, a resident. The recent rains have also complicated things as stagnant water covering potholes troubling road users, particularly motorcycle riders, who frequently fall off vehicles, he added.
Another major problem haunting the colony is open plots as they are fast turning into dumping yards. People throw waste with abject disregard for the health of those living nearby. Ch Neelima, a resident of the colony, is livid over the lack of civic sense among the people residing in the area. She pointed out that a vacant piece of land near her house has turned into a dumping yard. ‘’The kitchen in my house is adjacent to the plot where people throw garbage. Many times piles of garbage are dumped close to our house. The illegal dumping yards are becoming breeding grounds for mosquitoes, especially during the monsoon,’’ Rajeswari said.
Another issue that needs immediate attention is the vacant plots serving as open urinals for men. Despite residents making several appeals to the officials, the issue has not been resolved. The garbage piles remains uncleared for days together even as residents are engaged in a blame game, she said.When contacted, VMC chief medical and health officer K Arjuna Rao claimed that the civic body has already launched a drive to penalise the residents in various colonies who dump garbage and also has fined some of the plot owners. The civic body is also exploring all possibilities to increase the number of dumper bins across the city to address the garbage problem, he said.
Empty sites turn into dump yards
Vacant plots serve as open urinals for men The illegal dumping yards are becoming breeding grounds for mosquitoes Dog menace is reported in most of the areas due to the dumping of waste in vacant lands