Rotting city sits on powder keg of epidemic

times news network
Kanpur: Though the rain has stopped, trouble for denizens has only just begun with rotting garbage and overflowing sewer in several parts of the city posing an open invitation to seasonal diseases.
If meteorologists are to be believed, rain so far has just been a trailer of the actual monsoon. There are chances of heavy rainfall in the days to come.While the district administration has failed to get dug-up roads repaired before June 30 deadline, no cure has been found for perennial problems of poor sewage, sanitation and garbage dumps. This can result in outbreak of epidemics in the rainy season.
Workers of Kanpur Nagar Nigam (KNN) cleaned the drains but left silt by the roadsides. When it rains, the silt and sludge flows back and chokes the drains and sewers. It also spreads on roads, making them slippery and filthy. "Now, it has become difficult to walk or drive on roads as they have turned very slippery and dirty," said Ashok Gupta, a resident of Yashoda Nagar.
Some of the areas suffering from these problems are Jajmau, Bakarganj, Shyam Ngar, Shastri Nagar and Rajapurwa. "No one listens to us. We did complain to KNN officials regarding the garbage dump which is rotting now after rainfall. We live in Jajmau and fear an outbreak of disease," said local resident Pooja Tiwari. Other residents, Sanjay Gupta and Ajit Bharadwaj, also claimed of facing such problems in Bakargang.
Meanwhile, doctors are advising people to drink boiled water and avoid unhygienic food. "Rising moisture level in atmosphere is giving birth to various bacterial and viral infections and diseases. People need to keep their surroundings and houses clean and avoid contaminated food and water in monsoonal season," said Dr S Tiwari, senior cardiologist and physician of UHM hospital.