Trapped in toxicity: Residents of Visakhapatnam’s Gajuwaka struggle for breath of fresh air Premium

The Garbage Transfer Station (GTS) located in Ward 76 of Visakhapatnam's Gajuwaka amid densely populated colonies, has become a source of severe pollution and health issues. Locals complain of constant foul odour, black coal dust, mosquito menace, respiratory and skin ailments.

Chirping birds, a pleasant morning breeze, and nature’s gentle awakening are not what greet the residents of Ward 76 in Gajuwaka, Visakhapatnam — also known as the ‘City of Destiny’. Instead, mornings here usually begin with the foul stench of garbage emanating from trucks lining up en route to the Garbage Transfer Station (GTS), operated by the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC).

Though officially designated as a transfer station, locals describe it as nothing more than a dumping yard. Spread across nine acres, the facility receives hundreds of tonnes of waste daily before it is transported to Kapuluppada, the city’s main dumping site.

Over two decades ago, this area was considered the outskirts of the main city. Today, however, rapid urbanisation has transformed it into a prime residential locality, home to nearly 16,000 residents across a dozen colonies. A walk through these colonies, which fall under Ward 76 and lie in close proximity to the GTS, reveals the extent of the residents’ suffering. Daily activities have become difficult, with constant inconveniences and mounting health concerns affecting their quality of life.

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R. Deepa, 40, a resident of Ramachandra Nagar—the colony closest to the GTS, suffers from chronic respiratory problems. Her elder son underwent nose surgery, while her younger son was treated for intestinal issues. She had recently consulted a doctor who advised further diagnostic tests after suspecting potential lung complications.

“There is a doctor at the end of our locality. Whenever we visit him for any illness, his first advice is to vacate the house. He believes that pollution is the primary cause of most of our health issues,” she says.