Guntur: Residents of Guntur city suggested that the GMC officials focus on completing the underground drainage works, damaged side drains, garbage filled vacant lands and fogging to tackle the increasing number of mosquitoes that can heighten the incidence of vector-borne diseases.
There are 64 wards in the city and the UGD facility is available in Arundelpeta, Brodipeta, Old Guntur, Lalapeta and adjacent areas. This UGD system was constructed decades ago and is failing to fulfill the needs of the increasing population.
D. Somasekhar, a resident of Arundelpeta, said that the side drains and UGD overflow onto the roads even after a slight drizzle and that people cannot walk on the roads due to drainage water.
He said fogging is a must during night hours but that the GMC conducted fogging only sparingly. “The GMC staff do not clean the side drains as they are covered by cement slabs. If they have to clean, then they need to remove the slabs,” he said.
This apart, garbage is strewn on the streets and vacant lands, which have turned breeding ground for mosquitoes and that they are not allowing people to sleep peacefully in the nights.
Ranjit, a resident of Brodipet, welcomed the rallies and awareness programmes by the schoolchildren and said they are not sufficient to check the mosquito menace. He sought the GMC to release oil balls, Gambusia fish in the side drains, remove garbage and waste from vacant lands to make the city hygiene and mosquito-free.
GMC commissioner Ch. Anuradha said a three-point programme has been started to check mosquitoes.
She explained that the SHGs and GMC staffers were conducting awareness programmes, GMC public health department started special sanitation drive and that the malaria department started anti-larvae operations in the city. Besides, every Friday
