Vijayawada Municipal Corporation swings into action to check pollution of canals

VIJAYAWADA: The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation has finally swung into action to check the rampant pollution in irrigation canals. VMC commissioner J. Nivas, on Saturday, made a  field visit to assess the cause of pollution. He, along with the concerned sanitary inspectors and other officials, took a boat ride in the Bandar canal from Tummalapalli Kalakshetram to Yanamalakuduru.

The pathetic condition of irrigation canals in the city and the pollution causing factors were highlighted in the columns of this newspaper more than once. It was found that, along the 7.2 km stretch, the Bandar canal is being polluted with with sewerage at 52 locations. The drain water from the residential areas is being diverted into Bandar canal. Apart from the sewerage, water is being polluted by those living near the bunds.

Another major cause of canal pollution was  by garbage being thrown into the canals. The VMC commissioner has observed garbage piled on the bund which is slowly getting into the water and polluting it. He expressed displeasure over the burning of garbage dumps along the bunds. The VMC commissioner has directed the officials to prepare an action plan to contain the pollution. He told the officials to take up a pilot project to divert the drain outlets from Fakeer Gudem to Netaji Bridge by connecting them through pipeline to the underground drainage at the end of Dr. Y.V. Rao Hospital Road.

Mr Nivas also directed the officials to prepare estimates for fencing the canal bund to prevent dumping of  garbage and appealed to the public not to throw waste at the bunds. He appealed the people not to throw garbage into the canals as the water from these canals is also being used for drinking purpose in the downstream.