KAKINADA: Even though the rains in Kakinada have been sparse, streets in several areas, especially in slum areas are flooded with drain water, evidence that the drainage system is unfit to serve the city. People living in slums or otherwise are unable to walk on the streets. The overflowing drains are also contributing to the mosquito menace in surrounding areas, having turned into insect breeding centres.
Officials said that the civic authorities are constructing and developing drains and to do so, outlets were closed temporarily. Due to this, drain water was not flowing through outlets as freely as earlier, alleged people’s voice convener Dusarlapudi Ramana Raju. He said that the Railways constructed a culvert near Tarakarama Nagar and blocked the outlets. However, a month after completion of the culvert construction, the outlets have not been cleared. This has led to overflowing drain.
Other areas too face a similar, or worse, situation due to debris and weeds not being cleared from drainages. Mr Raju said that if it rains incessantly, the situation in the city would become worse and there will be chances of outbreak of diseases. He wanted the officials to sort out the issues of coordination with the railway officials in Tarakarama Nagar issue. Meanwhile, Kakinada Municipal Corporation commissioner S. Aleem Basha said that a special sanitation drive was being taken up in the city.
All steps were being taken to eradicate mosquitoes and their breeding centres by spraying chemicals in drainages and water storage places. Mr Basha said that four special teams have been formed and gang-works were being conducted for it. Mr Basha also requested the people to cooperate with the KMC by keeping their surroundings clean.
