Poultry waste poses a threat to health

Srikakulam: Wastage from poultry units is posing a threat to public health in Ranastalam and Ponduru mandals in the district. The owners of poultry units are throwing remains of waste in open places. As a result, air and soil are being polluted and it is leading to respiratory and digestive related diseases.

More than 300 poultry units are located at Kosta, Pathivadapalem, Kondamulagam, Pydibhimavaram and Patharlapalli villages in Ranastalam mandal. Some units are located at Lolugu, Kancharam and other villages in Ponduru mandal. In Etcherla mandal, the poultry units are located at Thotapalem and Peyyalavanipeta.

Owners of these units throwing wastage on roadside near water bodies and residential areas as a result people are suffering from foul smell and contamination of water. “We are suffering from respiratory related problems due to foul smell, but poultry owners are not listening to our pleas,” said K Ramana and M S Naidu of Kondamulagam while speaking to The Hans India.

“Currently, poultry waste can be used as a manure for crops. We will educate owners through local elders,” said Pollution Control Board executive engineer T Sudarsanam. “We directed our secretaries at gram panchayat level to serve notices on those poultry farmers who are throwing waste on open areas,” said district panchayat officer B Koteswara Rao. He appealed to poultry owners to use the wastage as manure for crops.

“Poultry waste is posing a threat to public health particularly in rainy season. We will sensitise the poultry owners and local health officials over the risk of spread of diseases with remains of poultry waste,” said district medical and health officer Dr Sanapala Tirupathi Rao.