Residents near Port demand relief from coal dust

Abibh Khan Visakhapatnam: One day in a year, Holi is celebrated by people with a variety of colours and hues. But for those adjoining the Vizag Port there is only one colour that is black and every day is Holi day. Not to celebrate but to fight for health. The colours of Holi can be washed away with water. But for these residents the colour that sticks to them every day can never be washed away, because it is blown over every day from the Port. They are constantly showered with life-threatening coal dust and harmful iron filings daily. For the past few years, the coal dust has become a part of the air they breathe and the water they drink not to speak of the food that they eat. As a result they suffer from, diseases of the lungs and skin and burning eyes. This is not confined to just Kotaveedhi residents, adjoining the Vizag Port but also Chilakapet, Thompson Street, Seahorse Junction, Lakshmi Talkies road, Ambusaran Street and Town Hall area. In all areas where the conveyor belt passes through, it is the same condition. Ironically, the Port is playing 'coali' (meaning coal dust) with these people daily. All appeals to a number of officials have fallen on deaf ears. So they observed Holi Day on Wednesday by agitating against this negligence, at Kotaveedhi. They staged a protest demanding a release from this coal dust. At least now, let us hope there would be a real Holi for these hapless residents.