40 per cent waste in Hyderabad nalas is plastic: GHMC
Highly placed sources claim that the corporation has been side-tracking the issue with such studies.
Hyderabad: Even after raising several awareness campaigns and banning plastic bags, 40 per cent of waste found in city nalas is plastic waste. This came to light after the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation conducted a pilot study while desilting the Shaikpet nala in Vittal Nagar. Interestingly, the corporation has found only 20 per cent water and 40 per cent silt. Highly placed sources claim that the corporation has been side-tracking the issue with such studies.
The corporation had assured 365 days of nala desilting, but it is yet to finalise the tenders for the desilting work to begin. Sources alleged that the corporation showcases this study during sudden cloudbursts, which has been predictably occurring for five years.
According to the study, the corporation officials found 40 per cent plastic waste, 20 per cent contaminated water and 40 per cent silt from 1 quintal waste desilted at the Shaikpet nala in the central zone. The percent plastic waste includes water bottles, disposable glasses and plates, and plastic bags. The study also revealed that silt mainly consisted of weed, hyacinth and wood waste. When corporation officials desilted the nala for the second time, they noticed 70 per cent silt, 10 per cent solid waste and 20 per cent contaminated water. Citizens living across the city has indiscriminately dumped coconuts, building waste and other debris.
Commenting on the thoughtless dumping, the GHMC Commissioner, B. Janardhan Reddy, urged citizens to not dump plastic and other solid wastes which will obstruct the free flow of water. He said this would result in water stagnation and increase the mosquito menace in the city.
However, sources say that instead of enforcing waste management, the corporation is trying bring about a solution through awareness campaigns for the age-old issue. The corporation has decided to take up 292 nala desilting works at the cost of '34.46 crores. The corporation officials claim that the tenders have been finalised for 80 percent of the works.