Uncleared Garbage Turns City Into Disease ‘Incubator'

Residents complain about littering of internal roads, open plots, spots close to nalas and around civic body dustbins

The current outbreak of viral fevers and other diseases is triggered at least partly by unauthorised garbage sites at multiple locations across the city.

Rainwater deposited in discarded tyres, boxes, paper cups and debris is acting as fertile breeding pool for mosquito larvae, resulting in outbreak of diseases such as dengue, malaria and chikungunya every year. While main thoroughfares are kept more or less garbage-free, residents from across the city are complaining about littering of internal roads, around GHMC bins, spots closer to nalas and open plots.

Dengue outbreak

Suvarna, a resident of Manikonda says, garbage not lifted from the road margins, and many vacant plots affects public health severely. MLAs’ Colony in Banjara Hills, the abode of several VIPs, is another case in point. The residents’ welfare association in the area raised concern when 30 cases of dengue were reported for the first time from the colony since July.

The reason behind the rise in dengue cases , they say, is due to dumping of scrap material like tyres, empty petrol and oil tins of the Transport wing of the GHMC in an open area earmarked for the colony park.

The situation has not improved even after the visit by GHMC officials following complaints, says Ridhima Singh, a member of the association. On top of it, a watchman was posted there to protect the scrap, she says.