Hospital waste, sewage water a deadly cocktail for Vijayawada residents

Vijayawada: Residents of Suryaraopet are in a dire situation as hospitals continue to discard biomedical waste in the open, despite continuous leakage of drainage and drinking water.

Residents alleged that the VMC picks the clinical waste dumped by scores of famous hospitals in the area just once in a week. Leakage in sewerage and drinking water systems dampen the trash, worsening the situation.

“We cannot even allow our children play outdoors for a while," a resident said.

The Karnati Rammohan Rao Municipal School in the area has become a stinking dumpyard as the public toilets near the school are not being chlorinated. Students are forced to sit through their classes bearing the stink.

“Despite numerous complaints registered with the civic authorities and Pollution Control Board, no appropriate action has been taken so far,” the residents alleged.

Resident Ms Thummala Padma said: “I had lodged a complaint with the officials over the issues. Though the Chief Minister’s office and other high-ranked dignitaries reside in just 1-km radius, the situation has not changed. Instead, it has worsened.”

A government school teacher said: “Despite the announcement of government on giving priority to health and hygiene with its latest programme Domalapai Dandayatra, there is no change in the situation, and we are living with mosquitoes and deadly bacteria due to the sewage.”