Pollution, poor sanitation continue to plague Vizag’s South Zone

Dust pollution, poor sanitation and inadequate drainage issues continue to trouble residents of Visakhapatnam’s South Zone, particularly in the One Town area, where people have been waiting for years for a lasting solution to recurring civic problems.

Despite repeated complaints and assurances from the authorities, residents say that clean air, an efficient drainage system and proper waste management remain distant goals in several localities.

For residents of One Town, pollution is the main concern. People living along the stretches from the Old Post Office area to AVN College Road, Chengalraopeta, Burujupeta and other adjoining localities say dust pollution has become part of their daily lives, affecting their quality of life and raising concerns about the health of vulnerable groups, particularly the elderly.

The issue resurfaced a few months ago when a conveyor belt reportedly released brown, sand-like dust near the Old Post Office area, triggering fresh concerns among residents. The incident prompted the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) authorities to initiate action against those responsible. A series of meetings were also organised following complaints from the public.

“Pollution has become a common problem in One Town. Despite several promises, no proper action has been taken so far to address it permanently. Many elderly people are suffering because of the conditions in which they have to live,” said Yousuf, a resident of the Old Post Office area.

Apart from air pollution, poor sanitation and inadequate drainage infrastructure continue to cause concern in several parts of the South Zone. Residents say that even moderate rainfall often results in drains overflowing and roads becoming waterlogged within minutes, particularly in low-lying areas.

Garbage accumulation remains another persistent problem. Though sanitation workers periodically clear waste from streets and drains, residents say that garbage reappears soon after the cleaning operations, pointing to the need for more effective waste collection and disposal mechanisms.

The Poorna Market area and Kurupam Market Road are among the locations where indiscriminate disposal of waste by some vendors has added to the sanitation burden. Residents allege that waste is frequently dumped into drains, obstructing the flow of water and aggravating the problem during rainfall.

“Several vendors in the Poorna Market area and along Kurupam Market Road dump waste into drains, causing blockages. There is also a need to upgrade and expand the drainage network, much of which is old and inadequate to meet the present requirements,” said Manasa, a resident of Poorna Market.

Residents also point to a shortage of sanitation personnel as a factor contributing to the recurring problems.

A senior GVMC official said that although silt was being removed from drains as part of periodic maintenance, blockages continued because of the dumping of solid waste into the drainage network. The official’s observation highlights the need for better enforcement against indiscriminate waste disposal alongside regular desilting and maintenance.

Residents and former corporators have also raised concerns about certain locations becoming vulnerable to the alleged consumption of ganja and liquor by groups of youths. Residents have called attention to the need for intervention to address such activities and improve public safety in the neighbourhood.