Akkarampalli tank filled with filth

Tirupati: Once a clean fresh water body has now turned into a most polluted tank thanks to the rapid urbanisation of the pilgrim city. Akkarampalli cheruvu known as Vinayak Sagar after the Ganesh idols immersion stared in the tank some five years back, turned like dumping yard with indiscriminate disposal of debris and all sorts of waste from households, shops and businesses in the tank.

Highlights:

• 50-acre tank turned into a breeding point for mosquitoes
• Irrigation dept to spend Rs 40 lakh for the tank rejuvenation
• Works like desilting, clearing of weeds and removal of waste and filth from the tank will be taken up soon

The miserable failure of authorities to prevent the dumping of waste coupled with people still remaining insensitive on the imminent dangers of disposing rubbish in the water body saw more and more debris, unused and unwanted articles from residences disposed off in the tank caused maximum damage to the tank.

It is needless to say that the polluted tank spread over about 50 acres of land turned a major breeding point for mosquitoes, flies and other harmful insects and also perennial source of stink making unbearable for the people passing on the way and also posing health hazards.

The mushrooming of colonies around the tank also resulted in the sewage waters carrying dirt, soap, food greases and bodily waste from the houses let out in the drains allowed freely to flow into the tank adding more to the pollution of the tank. Interestingly, the farmers are still using the polluted water for cultivation of about 100 acres growing paddy, vegetables and green leaves unmindful of the harmful effect of the produce.

A housewife Hemalatha residing in Subba Reddy Nagar near the tank said till few year back the nearby residents used to have the morning and evening walk on the tank bund but the unbearable stink and disgusting smell emanating from the tank due to pollution deterred people coming anywhere near the tank to spend some time reveal the level of degradation of the tank.

Varasiddhi Vinayaka Utsava Committee (VVUC) convener Samanchi Srinivas said that despite their best efforts the authorities are unable to check the drain water flowing into the tank water which is major cause for the pollution of the water.

Further, the dumping of debris of building and other waste shrunk the water storage capacity due to increased silt in the tank. The committee is struggling to save the tank the only water body in the city from growing pollution and saw the Irrigation department approve a proposal with an outlay of Rs 40 lakh for the rejuvenation of the tank.

Sudhakar Reddy, the last Sarpanch of Akkarampalli which was merged with Municipal Corporation of Tirupati along with two other gram panchayats said that more than 100 acre cultivable lands converted into lay outs. He stated that the farmers are extending their support to Irrigation department and VVUC efforts to end pollution of the tank.

Reddy informed that Irrigation officials held a meeting on Wednesday with farmers to take up first desilting, clearing of weeds and removal of waste and filth from the tank before taking up permanent measure like construction of wall and filter bed to check polluted drain water flowing into the tank.

Accordingly, the water in the tank will be let out to empty the tank for desilting and removal of waste, he said adding that the works are expected to start in July and hoped that the tank will soon become beautiful place providing the much needed breathing space to the people in the city.

By G Sridhar