Anthakarathodu stinks

KOCHI: The residents living in the vicinity of deserted and stinking ‘Anthakarathodu’ in Tripunithura are up in arms against the authorities’ apathy to their long pending woes. Diseases like scabies and various other respiratory ailments have gripped the people living around the stream, especially, those in Poithara Colony situated in close proximity to the stream.The people alleged that the authorities have never considered it as a serious issue. “There are about 78  families living here and we have been plagued by this issue for quite a long time. Neither health nor irrigation department has done anything to mitigate the problem,” said Rajan, a resident of Poithara Colony. He said that the six feet deep stream has been stinking to the core as the it is filled with waste. The residents added that the health department officials are not ready to attend to their health issues as they have dismissed it as a problem which does not come under their purview.Rajan also said that the trouble augments when even the representatives of the people do not consider this to be a serious issue which needs to be dealt with at the earliest. “We  brought this issue to the notice of Excise Minister K Babu several times but to no avail,” he said. Giving credence to the fact, even Minister K Babu said that the issue is yet to acquire a wide dimension. “As far as my knowledge goes, there have been no major health problems due to this issue. I will bring this issue before the Tripunithura Municipality,” he said.Councillor Pushpamani said that though she is aware of the frequent waste disposal to the stream, the related health issues have not come to her notice. “It is not easy to clean up the whole stream as it is a costly affair. I have asked the residents to note down the numbers of the vehicles that throw the waste into the stream. That is all what we can do,” said Pushpamani.