Sanitation woes mount in Visakhapatnam as municipal contract workers’ strike nears a week

Sanitation woes mount in Visakhapatnam city as contract workers strike nears a week; GVMC deputing staff to clear garbage.

The sanitation woes are mounting in Visakhapatnam city with the municipal contract workers strike nearing a week.

Though the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has been deputing permanent workers, temporary staff and workers from a few wings, streets in many wards are stinking with garbage, spread by dogs and cattle.

In some areas in Gopalapatnam, Gajuwaka, Peda Gantyada the public representatives are facing the heat, with the locals questioning them about non-clearance of garbage for days.

With around 650 Clean Andhra Pradesh (CLAP) drivers too joining the strike, garbage has been stinking in the apartments and residential colonies in the dustbins in many colonies. Some locals said that at least the number of dustbins should be increased in the colonies, as they are forced to dump wastes on the road since the dustbins were full.

“Since door-to-door garbage collection has stopped, people have been dumping wastes near the dustbins. Tonnes of wastes are lying on the roads in many colonies in my ward. Dogs and cattle have been scattering the litter. People are fearing rise in diseases now, but still the government has failed to initiate steps,” said Ward 22 Corporator P.L.V.N. Murthy.

Referring to the recent cleanliness drives taken by some YSRCP corporators, Mr. Murthy said that instead of taking up such drives, the authorities should conduct meetings with the union members and try to resolve the issues.