VISAKHAPATNAM: Be it the residents, petty vendors, pedestrians or commuters, it has become a nightmare for all to pass through the bylanes of Anthony Nagar in Maharanipeta. While the foul smell emanating from the open spaces being used as dumping ground is making the life miserable, the pothole-ridden roads are testing the patience of the motorists.
The pothole-ridden road welcomes you to stretch dotted with a series of old buildings and some new multi-storeyed houses.
Go a little further, open space being used as a dumping ground makes it a sad spectacle, with the foul smell emanating from it.
Stretching to half a km, Anthony Nagar was once densely populated with trees. Now, with a few left, people breathe polluted air.
Residents say that breeding of mosquitoes in the dumping ground has led to malaria and other health issues. “Running business has become difficult owing to the stench,” said a bunch of petty vendors on the road.
Ten years in the locality, Nirmala Y, laments,”Adding to the heap of waste, leftover food and garbage from the functions are thrown here. Moreover, the place has also become a point for open defecation. For the past one and a half years, my son has been infected with malaria thrice. We cannot leave the door open even for a minute.”
This is not the only problem, she says. “My son’s bike was stolen two years ago. Even now, I hear the neighbours speaking about petrol thefts too.”
Adding to the woes, residents complain that though the rubbish from the ditch is cleared regularly, there are frequent instances of the ditch being clogged leading to the overflow of the dirty water on to the road.
The residents comprising private employees, businessmen and professionals expressed that the GVMC authorities are only testing their patience. Even after filing regular complaints and sending letters to the GVMC authorities, the sanitary inspector had made a visit a few months ago.
“He had promised to clean the area, but the vendors of the area say that they are still waiting for the day to come,” says Nirmala.
Contacted, Zone 3 commissioner Chakradhar said, “The area will be cleaned within a week. We will also look into the matter for providing additional dumper bins. The officials concerned will be informed on Monday to inspect the condition of the roads,” he added.
Anganwadi bears the brunt
The vicinity also has Kristu Jayanthi English Medium School, St. Anthony’s High School and an anganwadi centre. The small open space behind the anganwadi centre is being used as a place for urinating, said Kanakamahalakshmi, the anganwadi caretaker who has been working for the last 30 years. “Is it not annoying to have such a disgusting smell in a place where small children are taken care of?” Kanakamahalakshmi said. Adding to the woes, she said, “The centre also does not have a bathroom. The children are sent home to relieve themselves.”
With the dog days setting in, one cannot live without an air conditioner. But the plight of these small children studying in anganwadi centre is something one cannot imagine.
The caretaker said that it has been one year since they are running the centre without electricity.
They allege that the GVMC has not been paying the electricity bills and hence the supply has been cut off.