Air pollution a bane of residents of Assam Gardens

The Hindu , Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Correspondent : Rani Devalla
Over 20,000 people reside in the 80-year-old locality

At 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the roads were almost empty at Assam Gardens except for a few vehicles parked and protective mothers clutching their little ones, heading back home after school hours.

Other than the famous Neelamma Vepachettu that stands tall amidst the colony, the 80-year-old locality is a place where over 20,000 people reside.

Advocates, retired employees and those working in pharmaceuticals and various sectors find the neighbourhood an amalgam of convenience and affordability as the place is located close to railway station and RTC complex and the rents here are comparatively reasonable. “Most part of the neighbourhood was bought by my grandfather Hamsala Appa Rao, councillor, who was instrumental in developing the residential layout and selling the plots to residents. The colony was earlier known as Hamsala Gardens. However, with the Assam Military Police battalions being stationed in the area, it was eventually rechristened as Assam Gardens,” explained Hamasala Maruthi Ram, grandson of Hamsala Appa Rao.

The II Town Police Station in the area was once a burial ground. “They used to cremate the bodies of those who were executed by hanging at the Central Jail here. Later, a portion of the burial ground has been cleared to give space to the police station,” said former corporator Vanapalli Ravi Kumar who grew up playing cricket on the streets of Assam Gardens. Other than choked drainage channels and litter strewn lanes, residents have been trying hard to put an end to stray dog and mosquito menace by bringing the issues to the notice of civic authorities. However, solution to these problems remains elusive in the neighbourhood for the past several years.

Add to that, coal dust pollution is another constant problem that the residents have to deal with. “The quality of life takes a beating in the neighbourhood due to air pollution.

Here, the doors and windows remain shut most of the time to avoid thick layer of dust settling on almost everything. Since we breathe polluted air, a majority of people suffer from cough, respiratory problems and a range of skin diseases,” added Mr. Maruthi Ram.

Zone III Commissioner V. Chakradhar; Mobile No: 9848889701; Helpdesk No: 0891-2707299.

 
SOURCE : http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/air-pollution-a-bane-of-residents-of-assam-gardens/article8966995.ece
 


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