Deadly sight of Cheeriyal lake

HYDERABAD: The appearance of the Pedda Cheruvu in Cheeriyal is an example of how human and animal life can be destroyed by poor solid waste management. The lake, spread over 33 acres, is in a complete mess. The colour of its water is black as a result of leaching from the garbage of the Jawaharnagar dumping yard and it stinks badly. G. Tirumala Reddy, who lives in the neighbourhood, said the problems started 12 years ago after the government created the Jawaharnagar dumping yard.

“Tonnes of garbage from the entire city is being dumped at Jawaharnagar. It is not treated and the leachate from it is flowing into the chain of nearby water bodies. As a result, Gundla Cheruvu, Idulakunta and Cheeriyal lakes (all a few kilometres from the dumping site) have become useless. When there is heavy rain as seen last month, this water flows downstream to contaminate other lakes like Godhumakunta, Rampally Cheruvu till Edulabad,” he said. The Telangana state government, it seems, hasn’t heard of the Prime Minister’s pet project, Swacch Bharat. 

Mr Reddy said that the Cheeriyal lake used to be a source of livelihood for fishermen and washermen communities from the Cheriyal village.  “It was also a source of irrigation for 200 acres of agriculture land. Due to the lake pollution, all this has been affected. The fact that not a single fish can be found in this lake goes to show how polluted Pedda Cheruvu is,” he said. Sathi Reddy, B. Anjaneyulu Yadav, and C. Nagesh, who all live locally, said that Cheeriyal village with a population of over 7,000, is beset with problems due to the poor solid waste management attempts of the government. “Many families used to depend on agriculture. But with severe contamination of the water, farming has almost stopped,” Mr Reddy said.

Samples being checked for leak

In another suspected case of fish kill due to industrial pollution, some five tonnes of fish were found dead and floating at the Rayani cheruvu in the Jinnaram industrial area, 20 km from ORR limits of Hyderabad. “We have taken samples from the water inlet and also from the industries to see if the case is that of effluent leak,” said Raghu B., pollution control board zonal officer for the area. 
He added that no leakages were noticed.

District fisheries officers report that the main breeds that have perished are Rahu and Katla. “Only in September we released 3.43 lakh fish seeds into this 200 acre lake and now they have perished,” said Ms Sujataha. This decimation of the fishing industry in this area will affect 120 families who make a living from fishing.
The incident comes close on the heels of the PCB issuing a mandate to all firms to rework storm water collection pits and ensure that no industrial water washes into the surrounding water bodies, but it looks like there may be brazen flouting of the PCB’s orders.