VIJAYAWADA: Despite the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) making tall claims over enforcement of ban on polythene bags, plastic waste continues to be a menace for residents of Sanath Nagar as sewage channels are clogged with the garbage for a long time now.‘’It seems that the civic body officials have opted for a ‘wait and watch’ policy. It is like they are waiting for spread of an epidemic disease,” V Shyamal Rao, a resident, said.
“As the VMC is showing no interest in sanitation works in the area, a solid-like layer made of multi-coloured plastic bags has formed over drains. It is a perfect spot for mosquitoes, which is giving many locals sleepless nights,” he added.
Another resident Bandi Krupakar Rao blamed indiscriminate dumping by commercial establishments to be the reason for this chaos. “Indiscriminate dumping of plastic wastes has left drainage channels in several parts of the locality heavily clogged... Though warnings were issued to the owners of such establishments on several occasions, there is still no stopping them from dumping garbage without any regard for sanitation,” he said, urging the VMC to deploy more sanitation staff and implement effective mechanism to penalise the violators.
The other major problem haunting the locality is heaps of garbage, consisting mainly of plastic items, lying on roadsides which have not been removed for a week now.“A complaint was lodged with the sanitary inspector of the area over the garbage menace a week ago, but no action is taken so far. Some persons resort to lighting the garbage on fire at night. The smoke causes heavy burning sensation in our eyes and driving becomes harder,” B Poornima, a local, said.
When contacted, the public health department of the VMC admitted that sanitation works in the city went for a toss during the 13-day strike called by civic workers earlier this month. “Hundreds of complaints over poor sanitation and garbage menace on the streets pour into the civic body complaint cell,” an official said.
Meanwhile, municipal commissioner J Nivas, to tackle the lack of sanitation across Vijayawada, has convened a meeting with health officials and sanitary inspectors to take stock of the situation at ground level.