Workers slog sans protective gear

Tirupati: Sewage worker Krishna's work begins at sharp 7 am. He along with his colleagues assemble at Vinayaka Sagar, a water body synonymous with the immersion of Ganesh idols, on the outskirts of Tirupati. After a light breakfast, they enter the murky waters, which is a mix of storm and drain, unmindful of the stench. They do not wear any kind of protective gear to enter the neck deep water for annual cleaning of tank ahead of ‘Ganesh nimajjan’ and have zero concern for their life.

Highlights:

• Sewage worker Krishna says they don’t have any such gears and no one gave them the gloves at least
• Workers complain of itching sensation probably because of the polluted water

They go on removing the garbage and aquatic plants from tank with their bare hands till evening. This is the plight of sanitation workers, hailing from Anantapur and Kavali in Nellore district, currently engaged by the civic authorities to get the tank ready for immersion of Ganesh idols, which usually takes place on the third-day of Vinayaka Chavithi in Tirupati.

When asked about their safety as they do not wear the protective gear, Krishna replied that they don’t have any such gears and no one gave them the gloves at least. Without having the knowledge of what is there beneath the water, they walk through the cleaning area with bare foot.

There may be glass pieces, sharp stones and other harmful material inside the waters. There may be even insects and some may be poisonous ones. But, one cannot see any fear in their eyes. However, Krishna said when they come out they feel itching sensation probably because of the polluted water. After standing amidst the unbearable stench, they even find it difficult to take food as they get vomiting sensation.

The tank has been fully covered with the duckweed plant, which has become very difficult to remove. The group of workers are finding it tough in removing the refuse from the sewage water and usually move it closer to the shore for a JCB to collect it. In the absence of proper machinery, the authorities have been relying on human intervention.

A senior official from the Corporation said, though the water is murky, it has all good characteristics which proved through the tests in laboratory. Even the Pollution Control Board has tested the water, he maintained. Located on the outskirts of Tirupati, Vinayaka Sagar’s name is heard much during Vinayaka Chavithi time every year than any other time. The tank spread over 29 acres has two major inlets.

Recently National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) scientists came and inspected the tank. They were planning to take up Phytorid technology, a form of eco-friendly sewage treatment soon. Though the officers were planning to develop the area on the lines of Tank Bund in Hyderabad, there is still a long way to go towards that goal.

By V Pradeep Kumar