Hyderabad: Residents of Esswar Villas in Nizampet faced off with municipal corporation authorities, refusing to allow a new drainage lane to pass through their gated community, sparking tension in the area until the authorities left the spot on Tuesday.
The gated community comprises 167 villas and was constructed in 2002, making it the first such community in the area. Residents said that the authorities should consider alternatives as allowing the work would damage the greenery and serene atmosphere of their community.
Authorities, however, said that the drainage line would serve the community and Vertex Lake View, another housing project, as both were near the Pragathi Nagar Lake and the planning authorities made the design considering all technical aspects.
Nageshwara Rao, vice president of Esswar Villas residents’ association, said: “Since 2017, many housing projects have come up upstream, where around 2,000 to 3,000 apartments are connected to the same drainage line. Due to that, manholes are constantly choked, with the situation worsening in monsoon.”
He said, “Parallel to this sewage line, the civic authorities started constricting SNDP last year and the authorities left it unfinished, due to which the stormwater as well the drain water backflow flooded booth the colonies, leaving sludge accumulation whenever there is rain.”
“On Tuesday, the Nizampet Municipal Corporation wanted to lay new drainage line passing through Esswar Villas to which residents objected and requested the authorities not to disturb the eco-system of the colony. When we came to know the proposal, we entrusted the survey to a JNTU professional, who gave a report, with an alternative line. That is okay with us,” he said.
Sowjanya Yellapragada, another resident, said: “I am residing here for the past 16 years. We never faced such issues before 2017. This is because many apartments came up, and authorities connecting all their sewage connections to this same line.”
