Froth, fear as chemical mixed water floods Hyderabad

Hyderabad: A cocktail of chemical effluents and flood water inundated several colonies in the city following Tuesday night’s rain. But officials from the city’s pollution control body claim the rain water — that has entered homes — is still free of pollutants.

A ‘chemical nala’ overflowed in Jeedimetla, Quthbullapur and mixed with tank water. Locals alleged that the dark chemical water mixed with rainwater and entered their houses by Wednesday morning.

At Liberty and Allwyn Colony, the water had a froth five to eight metres high and came on to the main road — ironically near the GHMC head office.
In Quthbullapur, water from the Vennalagadda tank mixed with a chemical drain and overflowed.

The heavy rain affected the vast industrial estates across Jeedimetla, Bolaram and Pasha Mylaram localities. Mr N.V. Rao, a resident of Quthbullapur, said, “Smelly, black water entered our apartment. Chemical effluents from nearby factories have mixed with the rain water and now, our homes’ water sumps are filled with this liquid. People are experiencing itching after bathing with this water.”

But the Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB) said chemical effluents were not mixing with water. TSPCB member secretary Mr Anil Kumar said, “Our officials visited these colonies on Wednesday and collected samples. We will be testing them. But our officials maintain that no effluents from industrial areas have joined floodwaters or entered water tanks.”