Canal pollution, mosquito menace raise health concerns ahead of monsoon in Vijayawada

Vijayawada: Vijayawada’s recurring canal pollution and stagnant stretches have once again triggered concerns among residents ahead of the monsoon season, with complaints of foul smells, mosquitoes, and poor sanitation surfacing in canal-side localities even as civic authorities say cleaning and mosquito-control measures are underway.Residents living near several stretches of canals, including parts of Labbipet, said that sewage mixing, plastic waste, garbage accumulation, and poor water flow continue to affect living conditions. K Mohan, a resident, said foul smell, mosquitoes and insects have become a persistent problem in the area, adding that snakes too occasionally enter nearby houses.Canal pollution, sewage mixing, and sanitation complaints have remained recurring concerns in Vijayawada over the years, particularly during summer and pre-monsoon months when stagnant stretches and waste accumulation become more visible.Officials, however, attributed the problem to multiple factors, including water stagnation, garbage dumping and flow-related challenges. Civic inputs indicated that Budameru remains a major mosquito-breeding source, while rapid aquatic weed growth, plastic waste and encroachments further aggravate canal pollution and hinder maintenance efforts.According to officials, Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) has been taking up mosquito-control and canal-cleaning measures, including drone-based spraying of BT powder and other interventions. They maintained that stagnant stretches and waste accumulation continue to pose challenges despite repeated mitigation efforts.Chief medical officer of health, Dr Arjuna Rao, said canal cleaning is being undertaken on a priority basis and that sanitation workers are carrying out manual cleaning in stretches where water flow is absent. He said irrigation-related regulation of water flow has stopped, while special drives to remove plastic waste and improve sanitation would be intensified after prevailing heatwave conditions ease.Officials also stressed that public cooperation remains crucial, stating that indiscriminate dumping of garbage and plastic into canals continues despite repeated awareness campaigns. They said sustained maintenance and stronger public awareness are essential to curb pollution and prevent mosquito breeding ahead of the June–July period.