Kakinada on the edge as pig menace worsens

Kakinada: The pig menace is giving sleepless nights to the residents of the city. The people fear that viral fevers will spread if the pig menace is not controlled.The officials, however, say that the problem has not come to their notice. The volte face by the councillors has not only baffled residents but also raised their ire.

The residents of the city lament that the corporation is not responding to the complaints lodged with it. They worry that pigsties in residential areas have wider ramifications, and would cause spread of viral fevers.

Droves of pigs roam around the streets and by-lanes,” complains S Aruna Kumari, a resident of Inukondavari Street. Coupled with the mosquito menace, children often fall sick with fever and other illnesses, she added.

It may be mentioned here that the High Court had asked the pig rearers to move their animals out of residential areas. Owing to absence of continuous monitoring on pigsties, the pig rearers come back to residential areas. They let loose their pigs in the areas that are covered with wild bushes.

Federation of Association of Residential Colonies of Kakinada, honorary president, Y S Rama Rao said, “This has become a perennial problem. Previously the municipal staff used to catch the pigs, but even this is not being done now.

Nevertheless, the pigs always come back as the Corporation has not found a permanent solution to rid the area of the menace.” Association president Dr Satya Prasad said the stray pig menace is driving residents of the city to their wits end.

He said that no stringent action has been taken against the pig rearers despite making several appeals to Kakinada Rural MLA P Anantalakshmi and Municipal Commissioner S Alim Basha in the past.

He said given the absence of political will to contain the unrestrained pig rearing business, residents are vexed over the problem.

CPI district unit president Tatipaka Madhu said that the municipal officials should send the pigs out of the city limits in view of public health.

CPM leader Palvela Veerababu and BJP district unit president Yenimireddy Malakondaiah said some of the areas in the city are notorious for the large scale pig rearing.

The innumerable open drains in these backward areas and food waste being dumped in the open are the favourite haunts for the pigs.

When contacted, MHO Dr Siri said that they received complaints from the residents and added that steps will be initiated to drive out pig rearers from various areas in the city.