Telangana government told to find sites for dump yards

Hyderabad: The state government directed officials to identify alternative sites for processing and disposal in the wake of pollution and increasing overflow year after the year at Jawaharnagar dumping yard.

The site was spread over 351 acres and initially dumping commenced in 2000 from Alwal and Kapra municipalities. From 2004, municipal solid waste disposal from all over Hyderabad began at Jawaharnagar. The current daily average municipal solid waste was about 4,800 tonnes and the daily processing capacity 6,000 tonnes. At present, there is 75 lakh litres of legacy leachate stored in the Malkaram tank and nine artificial ponds near Jawaharnagar dumpsite. How-ever during rain, there was overflow of leachate to downstream tanks and agriculture lands.

It was observed that contaminated storm water from water bodies abutting Jawaharnagar were overflowing and polluting downstream village tanks. Overflow was increasing annually, especially during every monsoon.

Contaminated ground and surface water was adversely affecting community health and livelihoods. The affected villagers were constantly agitating for closure of the facility.

In this backdrop, principal secretary, municipal administration Arvind Kumar held a meeting with officials and asked them to identify alternative sites for waste processing and disposal. He said it was necessary to cap old dump sites to control foul smell in the vicinity and fire and smoke and also avoid contamination of water bodies during rains.