Vacant lands a haven for insects, alcoholics

Visakhapatnam: Many vacant lands, particularly those on the city outskirts, have become unauthorised waterbodies and dumping yards covered with overgrown shrubs and bushes. During the rainy season, these have been transforming into breeding grounds for mosquitoes and rodents, posing a health threat to the nearby residents. Some were a convenient hangout place for drunkards and anti-social elements.

Many of the plot owners being settled in other places, even the GVMC officials have been finding it difficult to clean the plots as the responsibility lies with the owners. The properties with heavy growth of weeds and bushes can be observed in almost all areas of the city, including MVP Colony, Railway New Colony, Gajuwaka, Mahdurawada, Akkayyapalem, etc. Some of these plots are locked in legal disputes.

Bhanu Nagar Residents’ Welfare Association president and retired government officer Ch.V. Ramana Rao pointed to a vacant place in their colony which was covered with dense vegetation and said: “With the rains drenching the vacant land in our colony, it has been harbouring loads of mosquitoes and other insects. Heaps of garbage is being thrown into it.”

P. Venkateswara Rao, a resident of Akkayyapalem, complained of a vacant land near the GVMC 31st ward office in the area. “It is always seen filled with debris and garbage. I had to complain to the GVMC officials many times but they couldn’t do anything as it is a private property,” he added. Anumolu Srinivasa Rao of YLP Layout near Senora Beach Resorts said the vacant places around their apartment have become a haven for the mischievous youth to drink and carry on anti-social activities. “We had to request the police to pay more attention. The vacant properties look like a forest with the dense bushes,” he added.

GVMC Commissioner Hari Narayanan said: “Instructions have been given to all the Zonal Commissioners to issue notices to all the plot owners, whose plots are serving as breeding grounds. In case if they don’t respond, fines would be levied on those sites,” Mr. Hari Narayanan said.