The city was abuzz on Gandhi Jayanthi on Monday with the State government conducting the ‘Swachhate Seva’ (cleanliness is service) campaign. The roads, particularly Bandar and Eluru roads, appeared spic and span as the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) laid special emphasis on sweeping these areas. But it was a picture in contrast in other places which, surprisingly, also include the areas close to seats of power like the VMC office and the CM’s camp office.
The garbage was left uncollected alongside the roads in many places and garbage mounds could be seen near the VMC office also. For instance, the spot near the Rajiv Gandhi Wholesale Market, which is a stone’s throw from the corporation office, overflowed with trash generated from the flower and vegetable markets.
The situation near the Kaleswara Rao Market, another vegetable market opposite the VMC office on the other side of the canal, was no better. Garbage overflowed from the bins located here. Roadside vendors were seen selling food in unhygienic conditions. They parked their pushcarts at the overflowing bins and in the stagnated sewage and rain water.
The condition near the Swaraj Maidan Rythu Bazaar, which is very close to the Chief Minister’s Camp Office, is pathetic. The dumper bins overflowed with garbage here. The market generates about a tonne of garbage every day. Stinking cesspools and piled up garbage along the wall of the Rythu Bazaar wall greet the visitors.
Overflowing bins were seen on most of the roads in One Town. Residents of the Gayathri Nagar, Siddhartha Nagar and their surrounding areas are the worst hit by the overflowing drains and water stagnation. Similar situation was witnessed on Poly Clinic Road, Pantakaluva Road and other areas.
The city generates nearly 550 tonne of garbage daily. Of this, more than 300 tonne is generated by households, which comes straight on to the dumper bins placed at various points in the city. The VMC deploys 374 dumper bins across the city but in view of the devotee rush for the Dasara at the Indrakeeladri, which concluded on Saturday, the corporation officials lined up another 10 bins. Extra force was deployed near the temple to ensure proper sanitation, say officials.
Rain effect
When contacted, in-charge Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) Dr. Babu Srinivas said that about 650 tonne of garbage was generated in the city during the festival. The garbage clearance was as usual, but rains hit the movement of garbage vehicles. The garbage lifted from the city had to be shifted to the dumping yard at Pathapadu, he added.