Open drains a health hazard in Wadi

For years, the residents under Wadi Nagar Parishad have been trying to get the authorities to cover open drains in many areas. These drains have become breeding grounds for mosquitoes, throw out a constant stench and also pose a serious health threat.
One such open drain is in Ambedkar Nagar. “The government agencies are aware of the problem. But they just do nothing about it,” said a Sulochana Sahare, a resident of the locality.

Wadi area, which shares its boundary with Nagpur Municipal Corporation, is also crying for hygiene. At least 50 families have contracted waterborne disease due to supply of contaminated water. “Open drains system add to their woes,” admitted councillor Asmita Meshram from Wadi Nagar Parishad.

Open drains built years ago still flow freely not only posing a potential health hazard but also present an unpleasant picture of the area. Despite repeated complaints and memorandums, nothing positive has emerged in this locality.

Even the door-to-door garbage collection is irregular due to which the open drains have turned into dumping ground for garbage as the locality has no dust bins. The colony came into existence more than 30 years ago and “we have been suffering since then” was the general observation of residents.

The residents also claimed that pipelines in many localities were laid alongside drainage system which leads to contaminated water being supplied.

Mangala Prasad, another resident, said that in the last couple of years at least 10 people have lost their lives due to waterborne diseases.

An official from Wadi Nagar Parishad admitted that many localities were getting contaminated water from taps “due to corroded pipeline”. He claimed that with the help of state government’s special grant of Rs70 crore, a new pipeline from Vena Dam to Wadi locality has been laid.