Lack of co-ordination between GHMC and Water Board a permanent problem

Hyderabad: The lack of co-ordination between the GHMC and the Water Board has become a permanent problem. Surrounding municipalities like Kapra, Uppal, Rajendranagar, Kukatpally, Alwal, Qutbullapur and others which were merged with the GHMC continue to pay sewerage cess to the Water Board while maintenance is done by the GHMC.

Caught between the two agencies are the tax payers, who are sent from one department to another. The Water Board directs complainants to the GHMC, while the Corporation asks them to contact the Water Board as it is collecting the money.

Highlighting this, Mr Anand Baba of LB Nagar said that over the past year, the resident welfare association had been reporting sewerage problems to the GHMC and Water Board.

“Drainage is overflowing from LB Nagar till Dilsukhnagar. Pedestrians are forced to walk through sewage. During Praja Vani the issue was noted but there was no inspection of the place. The complaints are taken by the Water Board but there is no follow up,” he said.

There are three lakh plus connections in these areas and one third of the money paid to the Water Board is sewerage cess. Almost Rs 10 crore is collected annually from these merged localities.

The unhygienic state of the roads is also causing loss to businessmen with the stench driving customers away. “Dirty water accumulates in front of our shops emitting a foul smell. No department comes forward to take up the issue but places the blame on each other,” Mr Anand Baba adds.

Mr Manoj Kumar of Red Hills said the locality’s water point is placed near My Rose Hotel at Nampally. Since the last three months the pipeline from Red Hills to Goshamahal is damaged and leaking.

"Right from 3 am till 8 am water is wasted. Since day one the answer is that the contractor for repairing the pipeline is not available,” Mr Kumar said.