Garbage dump in Shirva market-A potential health hazard

Report and Pictures by Prakash Katapadi
Bellevision Media Network

 

Shirva, 25 June 2010: The garbage dump near the fish market in Shirva under the Shirva Grama Panchayat jurisdiction is a potential health hazard as it has become the breeding ground for mosquitoes especially during the monsoon season. There is an acute fear of  spreading diseases caused by mosquitoes. Besides the fish market, the chicken and other meat market, vegetable market as well as other shops are exposed to the mosquito menace.  People passing through this heap of garbage have to close their mouth and nose in order to keep off the foul smell. 

The cattle and stray dogs have been found near the heap of garbage in search of food. This has made the situation in the market still worse. Even though the Panchayat office is not far away, the authorities have not bothered to clear this garbage. Due to rain, the garbage water has collected in the vicinity creating conditions for the breeding of mosquitoes. If precautionary steps are not taken by the Panchayat authorities in time, people living and working in the neighbourhood may become victims of various mosquito caused diseases such as malaria and chikenguniya.

The people who frequent the fish and vegetable markets especially during the weekly market and the shop-keepers and those who live in the vicinity of the market are increasingly worried about the garbage dump that is causing apprehension in their minds about the mosquito menace. The foul smell   has become too much to bear. There is also a demand that the fish market should be shifted from the present location to some other place.

It is hoped that with the constitution of the new Shirva Grama Panchayat administration and committees, the garbage problem that is potential health hazard would be solved and the people of Shirva township would be spared from the diseases caused by the mosquitoes.