Swachh efforts fail main drains

Akiveedu: Swachh Bharat and Swachh Andhra Pradesh have now become mere slogans following the dumping of plastic waste and garbage from the houses on the bunds of irrigation channels in Akiveedu village in West Godavari district.

The main drains of Ganganamma Kodu, Andevari Bode of Akiveedu village had become a dumping yard for the people. As the Panchayati officials did not take any action, the drains were filled up with the garbage and plastic waste.

Akiveedu, a major Panchayat with 20,000 population is on the national highway of Pamarru-Prattipadu. All the small and medium drains in the village flow to Ganganamma Kodu drain. The 50 feet drain now shrinking up to 10 feet following the dumping of plastic waste and garbage. Earlier, about 200 acres of paddy crop received irrigation water from Ganganamma Kodu. Following inaction by the officials, the people in surrounding areas have been dumping the garbage and plastic waste into the drain.

Due to the stagnated water, drain became a breeding centre for mosquitoes. On the other hand, the major drain Upputeru also gradually filled with plastic waste and garbage in the village. Its embankment has now filled up with plastic waste and garbage. No irrigation official concentrated on this problem.