Civic body behind schedule in renovating sewerage sytem
The sewerage system is controlled by the GHMC in these areas though there is a designated Metro Sewerage Board.
Hyderabad: Work on building a modern sewerage network is behind schedule in 12 erstwhile municipalities. The sewerage system is controlled by the GHMC in these areas though there is a designated Metro Sewerage Board. And even when a complaint is filed with both corporations, the job is always delayed.
While the sewerage network totaling 3,500 km in the core city needs major overhaul, the suburbs either have zero or incomplete network. Tax-payers are fed up with leakages, water clogging and groundwater contamination. At least one corporation must take up the job, they said.
K.N. Srinhari, resident of Mallikarjunanagar, Malkajgiri said, “Road No. 5 of Mallikarjunanagar was made in 1980. Today it is the only road neglected by authorities with special reference to drainage. Six months back part of Road No. 5 and its sub-lane’s drainage was replaced with underground drainage. While for the remaining part, conversion of open drainage to underground drainage has been kept pending by GHMC officials. They are not responding in spite of several complaints. The open drainage is filled with mud, silt and debris. We were informed by the authorities four months back that the budget for underground drain and the tender was sanctioned but no action has been taken.”
T. Sudhakar Reddy, a resident of Maruthinagar, Attapur said, “From the last 15 days, drainage water filled with mud and stinking debris is flowing in front of our road. It has got stagnated in front of our houses leading to unbearable smell. I personally met Rajendra Nagar circle GHMC officials and informed one Mr Venkoba (GHMC staff) to help us clear the mud. They said they would clean it in a day’s time but officials are now refusing to help stating that it’s not their problem but the health and sanitation wing’s; there’s been no inspection of the premises as well.”
Talking about ground water contamination, residents of Dilshadnagar, added, “The drinking water supplied to the colonies smell foul and the colour varies from pale yellow to darkish brown.” S. Mirza, a resident added, “The issue is over two months old now, most of the residents use packaged drinking water since the tap water smells, this water is not even fit to wash clothes, utensils.”
No system in many houses
Most household sewers are either linked to storm water drains or are let out into water bodies nearby in the 12 erstwhile municipalities. While storm water drains are supposed to be dry except during the rains, the flow in these drains is perennial, indicating the illegal link with sewers.
The poor sewerage system has led to stagnant water, mosquito-breeding and increased pollution of Musi River. The continuing battle for taking over sewer maintenance is another reason for lack of urgency in taking up any works.
Colonies are even ready to install pipelines themselves if the municipality comes up with 70 per cent funds. Not just the sewerage system, but treatment plants and even the prospect of recycling water are lagging behind. The Sewerage Board currently has the capacity to treat just about 50 per cent of the sewage outflow with the help of three Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs).
A senior official from the Engineering wing of GHMC said, “Sixty per cent of the erstwhile municipalities don’t have a sewerage system, currently the Rs 314 crore JNNURM project is on at Rajendranagar, which is monitored by Water Board. When the GHMC was formed, the state government ordered that the GHMC would maintain the sewerage system until the latter handed the job over to the agency with proper staff, infrastructure and funds. The Sewerage Board is then supposed to take up the responsibility. At some places like L.B. Nagar and Kukatpally, the sewerage job is handled by the Engineering department and the rest by Sanitation. The agency should take over with financial support of the government or GHMC.”
Sewerage board officials from the Operations and Maintenance wing said, "In most places like LB Nagar, Rajender Nagar and Pantancherru, there is no system itself, it needs to be fully developed; there is no sewerage land, trunk main to maintain the sewerage. The state government should at least approve these projects and execute the system. The Board can then take up the responsibility.”
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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