Telangana: Sewerage dirties the only water they get

Hyderabad: The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) campus at Kowkoor on the city outskirts has no sewerage system. The grey water is let out into the Bharatnagar talab in Ward No. 133 of the GHMC’s Alwal circle.

This dirty water has seeped into the tanks of a majority of the houses in the area. Residents draw the same water for drinking, cooking and bathing. This area has not had a drinking water connection in over 30 years.

Bharatnagar has 600 families, mostly migrants. Drinking water is supplied in tankers by the Water Board but only once in 10-12 days. The residents have no option but to use the polluted groundwater for household purposes.

Bharatnagar resident T. Mallikarjun said the polluted lake is located between the CISF campus and Rajiv Gruhakalpa — the government-sponsored housing scheme. “The sewerage from the CISF campus and the Gruhakalpa homes is let into the Bharatnagar talab. This has polluted the groundwater,” he said.

The water drawn from the tanks is green and smelly; sometimes residents find solid waste. The water is boiled for drinking and cooking purposes, he said.

When contacted a GHMC assistant engineer said, “The pipeline network has been sanctioned for the area. Laying of pipes will be taken up after the monsoons.” When asked about the shortage of drinking water, he said the frequency of tanker  supply will be increased.