VIJAYAWADA: The burning of waste matter beside roads and garbage dumping bins in the city has been posing problem to people nearby the areas as inhalation of black smoke can lead to respiratory and other infections. There are huge piles of garbage at the VMC garbage collection centres and burning it is also posing trouble to motorists and pedestrians passing through the way.
The rag pickers also burn waste electricity wires and other materials, to get copper, at vacant places on the canal bunds and road margins, which release black smoke causing severe inconvenience to those travelling on the roads.
Meanwhile, some people have been dumping waste in large quantities at Bandar Lakulu and other areas. On burning it, thick black smoke spreads in the area affecting the health of the public. This problem is more in the nights.
M. Chand, a private employee, said that smoke coming from burning waste on the Sambamurthy Road, beside Ryves canal, has been making it hard for motorists to drive their vehicles in the nights, as smoke reduces visibility.
He expressed fear that inhalation of black smoke would lead to respiratory problems and urged the civic officials to take measures to restrain burning of waste on roads.
Dr Arun, ENT specialist in the city, said that patients visiting him with respiratory problems has been increasing in the city. “The nose can filter particulate matter to some extent only, when a person inhales polluted air like smoke.”
The particles can cause serious illnesses, mainly in children and the elderly, like asthma, bronchospasm, cough, wheezing, respiratory infections and lung cancer.
CPM state executive member Ch. Babu Rao objected to the burning of waste and urged the VMC to take necessary measures to check it.
