Date:07/11/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/11/07/stories/2009110759040300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada

Dharna staged against garbage dumping

Staff Reporter

Opposition parties intensify campaign
Time Congress addressed the issue: CPI(M)

VIJAYAWADA: Opposition leaders of the Left and the Telugu Desam parties on Friday staged a dharna at Pipula Road Centre in Singhnagar as part of intensification of their protest against dumping of garbage at Shriram Energy Systems plant in Ajitsingh Nagar by the local municipal authorities.

The dharna was staged under the banner of ‘Chetta Dumping Nirodhaka Aikya Karyacharana Committee’.

Addressing the protesters, CPI(M) city secretary and floor leader in Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) Ch. Babu Rao said dumping garbage at the defunct plant located in a residential area was in gross violation of the norms spelt out by the Supreme Court. He said nearly 550 tonnes of garbage was being dumped daily, exposing families living in the area to severe health problems. Taking strong exception to the Congress remark that the opposition parties were trying to politicise the issue, Mr. Babu Rao said instead of whiling away some more time in inaction, it was time the ruling party leaders put in place concrete measures to address the issue.

TDP floor leader in the general body of the VMC Y. Ramana Rao launched a broadside against the Congress leaders. He said despite a series of agitations to highlight the gravity of the situation, the authorities concerned had done precious little to mitigate the woes of the local residents. The TDP leader said funds to the tune of crores of rupees were sanctioned for the VMC to take up developmental projects under JNNURM. Even while the protest was on, Housing Minister Shilpa Mohan Reddy and Krishna district in charge Minister K. Parthasarodhy, accompanied by Vijayawada Central MLA Malladi Vishnu and Mayor M.V. Ratna Bindu, visited VAMBAY Colony. The protesters stopped their speeches for a while and waited eagerly for the Ministers to return with an intention to put forth the garbage dumping issue before them. But to their disappointment, the Ministers took a less-trodden katcha road. CPI(M) city secretary R. Raghu, CPI city secretary K. Subbaraju, CPI floor leader D Sankar and others participated.