Hyderabad: – On the occasion of 3rd Global Day of Action against Waste, coalition of activists from the city and national capital expressed seething anger against the increasing health impacts of polluting waste disposal practices which are adversely affecting the people especially pregnant women and children. The waste pollution crisis in Gandamguda of Peerancheru Panchayat, Ranga Reddy district of Andhra Pradesh illustrates the situation.

The emission of the notorious pollutants in Gandamguda is linked to cancer, immune and reproductive system disorders, birth defects, and other health threats, says Toxics Link, an environmental organisation. Besides environmetal groups, the villagers have sought removal of the dumpsite and the SELCO’s waste to energy plant. The toxins are building up in the environment especially the aquatic ecosystem of the villages such as Osman Sagar and Himayatsagar drinking water bodies in its vicinity.

Residents of Gandamguda and nearby villages and colonies are showing evidence corroborated by the findings of Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board which indicate that the chemicals leeching out of dumpsites and the air pollution because of open burning is entering the food chain, says T Sanjeeva Reddy of Joint Action Committee, Gandamguda.

Everyone in Peerancheru Gram Panchyat and its adjoining regions is now contaminated with these harmful pollutants and its symptoms are visible in the form of brain fever, vomiting, jaundice, ashthma, miscariages,infertiltiy, says D. Shakuntala, Sarpanch of the Gram Panchyat.

How much harm are we willing to accept before we abandon these deadly ways of managing society’s garbage, asks D. Narasimha Reddy of Center for Resource Education.

If concerned authorities do not act in right earnest to remove the dumpsite and SELCO’s installations, villagers would resort to unprecedented agitation warns the Sarpanch.