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From fishing village to garbage dump
Gurunagar used to be a picturesque fishing village in Jaffna. But, today it has changed into a garbage dump, much to the disappointment of visitors anticipating a tranquil rural setting. What they get instead, is the unbearable stench of rotting garbage which covers the beach for miles on end.
School children and fisherfolk are forced to walk ankle deep garbage. Villagers complain that a lack of action by authorities against those who dispose of garbage and litter the beach has resulted in this eyesore. Amurthnantham Anthony, a village elder said: If garbage collection and disposal was done in an organized manner this situation would not have arisen.
“For many years our children have been suffering from a number of skin ailments, mosquito-borne diseases and are easily prone to illness. As we are simple fisherfolk, we are unable to attract the attention of ranking officials to make our grievances,” he said.
He added that waste water drains too were blocked due to garbage accumulation, leading waste water over-flowing into houses.
 The picture tells its own tale… a school girl covers her nose as she walks amidst the stench and garbage |
 Garbage blocking up storm-water drains |
 A once beautiful beach, now a garbage dump |
 Garbage filled drains lead to waste water overflowing into homes |
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