Damaged city roads pose health threat to denizens

Nellore: Albeit you hate dust, but denizens have to inhale it as the civic body has been keeping mum on loud appeals of the local population, who were facing day-to-day difficulties with dust on the roads that were wilfully damaged for ongoing water and Under Ground Drainage (UGD) works.

Even though, Municipal Minister has been saying that they would lay roads for the convenience of the population but no efforts in that direction. Consequently, dust allergies are plaguing city population after the civic body started water and UGD works.

Now, majority population were suffering from allergies, cough, and asthma. Roads were dug as part of ongoing UGD works and laying water pipelines in the city limits and the contractors simply covered with mud and fly ash which washed out due to vehicle movement and sweeping activity.

Now, there are pot holes on every road, including small lanes, where water stagnates or otherwise dust amassed there being spread because of movement of heavy vehicles. Municipal and public health wings are taking up underground drainage and water works with Rs 1,100 crore and the city roads were damaged due to operations.

Commuters are becoming the victims of the dust and allergies, who were travelling on the important bypass road from Atmakur Bus Stand to Ayyappa Temple. All roads without exception were having pot holes, damaged due to ongoing works and piled up garbage giving nightmarish experience to the local people.

Medical experts say the continuous exposure to dust and bacteria leads to respiratory diseases amid dry weather conditions. The researchers found that the teenagers' risk of atopy - a tendency to have allergic reactions – found to be advancing when they live close to the main road.

They say there was a co-relation in allergies and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children too where increasing levels of dust in the cities was aggravating the problem, said Dr C Karuna, a retired medical officer. Now, people were facing throat allergies, sneezing, and stuffy nose.

These conditions indicate allergic symptoms and they sometimes lead to asthmatic difficulties if the civic body continues to neglect the situation. Already medical and health wings found the city and other parts has been facing severe threat from asthma and the lax attitude of politicos and officials would add some more vulnerability to the city population.

“We wait for some time and file a suit in the court for wilful negligence of the civic body clearing the difficulties of the people. Majority were suffering from diseases due to dust and other problems,” said A Venkateswara Rao, a resident of BV Nagar.

By P V Prasad