VIJAYAWADA: Sanitation at pushkar nagars here went worse on the third day of Krishna Pushkarams. Though they tried hard, the sanitary staff could not clear the food waste, empty water sachets and other rubbish dumped everywhere, as too many pilgrims rushed to the pushkar nagars during the lunch hours.
Meanwhile, there were lesser users as the toilets set up at the pushkar nagars and important junctions were in bad condition and emanating foul smell. The Pushkar Nagar at Padmavathi Ghat witnessed hundreds of people during the afternoon. An immediate exodus of pilgrims arrived for lunch and escaped from the heat at the Pushkar Nagar which, in turn, made the area much congested. Around 6-8 counters were erected for distribution of food, by easing the rush.
Pilgrims strewn food waste all over, turning the Pushkar Nagar into a worst nightmare for the sanitary workers, within a few minutes. A large number of sanitation workers were deployed at the spot to clear the waste, but in vain, as the crowd kept swelling minute by minute.
Announcements were made requesting the public not to dump waste, but with no response. The public opined that there were not many dumping bins at the spot, which made them to litter waste at corners.
Garbage kept spilling out of the dumping vehicle kept nearby the Pushkar Nagar, thus emanating foul smell. As the situation turned worse, many pilgrims dared to enter the Pushkar Nagar.
Meanwhile, few pilgrims argued with the officials at the Pushkar Nagar near Krishnaveni Ghat for not cleaning the toilets properly. One of the sanitary officers said: “There was a sudden increase of rush in the Pushkar nagars. To beat the heat, many entered the Pushkar nagars. We moved down the staff working at toilets to pick up the waste, put them in dump bins and clear the bins immediately. Any how, we would bring the situation back to normal.”