Major canals critically polluted in city

The three canals in the city now stand testimony to Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) officials' apathy and rampant pollution by residents. With the closure of canals, the people were experiencing the hard reality that the Corporation is turning a blind eye to sullage and drainage letting out into the canals.

At many places, the VMC itself lets out the sullage into the canals. The sullage from One Town joins Eastern Canal just in front of the VMC main office. As many as 32 open drain outlets are there into Bandar canal, 12 outlets into Eluru canal and eight outlets into Ryves canal in the city. The canals are looking like mere drains in the city. As more number of drains were being let out into the Ryves, Bandar and Eluru canals passing through the city, the sewage got stagnated turning them into a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

With the Irrigation officials stopping release of water into canals, sewage water stagnated in the low-lying areas in Eluru, Budameru, Ryves, and Bandar canals at many places. Garbage also piled up at many points aggravating mosquito menace. For the last many years, the canals have been bearing the pollution caused by the Corporation and people residing alongside as well.

The sullage water is emitting stench, which is not only harmful for humans but also for the environment. It passes through many areas of the city before moving towards the villages where it is the only source of drinking water downstream. The Corporation officials, however, said the people living around it were also responsible for the present condition. They ignore the restrictions imposed by them and dump the garbage into the canal.

The problem would be resolved once the Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) were completed. The sullage would also be diverted into the STPs for treatment. The works were likely to be completed before rainy season, the officials said.