Hyderabad: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is facing a growing demand from citizens in certain areas to convert ill-maintained artificial baby ponds to amphitheatres. In particular, citizens in the neighbourhood of Ganesh immersion ponds in Kapra say that rather than use them as breeding grounds for mosquitoes, GHMC should drain out the water and use the space for public activities by residents. Once converted to amphitheatres, the spaces could be used for community activities and may also prove a source of revenue for at least a month during summer by hosting cultural activities, as done in Shilparamam. Residents say, the stagnant water points have become breeding sites for mosquitoes as well as garbage dumps.
GHMC spent over Rs 20 crore on constructing baby ponds at Kapra, Cherlapally, Serilingampally, Kukatpally, Raidurg and other places to ease pressure on Tank Bund and minimise water contamination in Hussain Sagar Lake. Defeating the original purpose, these water bodies have become the source of the rapidly growing mosquito menace, especially after Ganesh immersions and Bhathukamma festival. Federation of North Eastern Colonies of Secunderabad secretary C.S. Chandrashekar said since several colonies in Kapra have no community halls, the converted amphitheatres can host community activities, including awareness programmes by the government. He added that the highly contaminated water in the ponds has actually claimed the lives of two children, who drowned in them. “All we need is support from the government and we can even volunteer to paint the surface,” he added.
Gulshan, who lives in Sainikpuri, said residents met municipal administration and urban development minister K.T. Rama Rao during his recent visit to inaugurate a water reservoir in the area, and asked him to convert the baby pond in Kapra to an amphitheatre. Reacting to the proposal, mayor Bonthu Rammohan said though the idea is a good one, it has certain limitations, but said, the GHMC will definitely look into the matter and take a decision in a couple of days. So far, the GHMC has constructed 15 baby ponds for Ganesh immersion, at a total cost of Rs 21.01 crore.
According to data collected from GHMC, the civic body plans to construct ponds at Pedda-Chinna Cheruvu at an estimated Rs 90 lakh, at Pathi Kunta for Rs 1.18 crore, Mir Alam Tank for Rs 1.50 crore, Lingam Cheruvu for Rs 1 crore, Boin Cheruvu for Rs 1 crore, Mundla Katwa for Rs 1.8 crore, Nagole Cheruvu for Rs 1 crore, Kotha Cheruvu for Rs 85 lakh, Banda Cheruvu with Rs 80 lakh, Mothukula Cheruvu for Rs 80 lakh, Nalla Cheruvu for Rs 1 crore, Large Tank for Rs 1.50 crore, Patan (Saki) Cheruvu for Rs 90 lakh, Raisamudram for Rs 90 lakh, Kaidamma Kunta for Rs 90 lakh, etc., Gurunath Cheruvu for Rs 90 lakh, Gopi Cheruvu for Rs 90 lakh, Durgam Cheruvu for Rs 90 lakh, Hussain Sagar Lake (Jala Vihar) for Rs 1.65 crore and Hussain Sagar Lake (Ambedkar Nagar) for Rs 1.35 crore.
Artificial immersion ponds, home for mosquito breeding
The decision of the civic body to provide man-made water tanks for Ganesh immersions and the ‘Bathukamma’ festival, has incurred the displeasure of people living in residential colonies nearby. . These ‘baby ponds’ which have been constructed to ease pressure on Tank Bund and minimise the water contamination in Hussainsagar lake, have become breeding sites for a rapidly growing mosquito menace. The mosquitoes appear and go on the rampage for over 20 days in a year.
Civic apathy has led to public outrage as residents living in and around the immersion ponds have been having what can only be described as ‘mosquito nightmares’. They claimed that the mosquito problem has intensified this year, with the corporation officials turning a blind eye to the issue. If this goes on, they say the monsoon will be a nightmare and dengue fever will be common in the neighbourhood. K. Ajay, a resident of Nacharam, said that the mosquito menace has been a 365-day problem in the vicinity. He that the GHMC Entomology staff, without performing fogging and anti- larval operations, have been registering fake signatures.
“For a month, the mosquito problem has become unbearable and we can’t step out of the house . No fogging operations have been conducted for a year.” Echoing his concern, a resident of Kukatpally said that the corporation has been conducting anti-larval operations once a week but not fogging operations. She said no one can step outside the house after 6 pm. “Particularly during the current year the mosquito menace has intensified and the corporation officials have done nothing about it. If this goes on, the monsoon will be a nightmare and could lead to dengue,” she added. When asked a senior official admitted that the tanks have been breeding sites for mosquitoes. He said that the corporation has been doing its best by fogging the area on a regular basis.
