Areas surrounding Durgam Cheruvu battle stink, mosquito menace
An independent house flooded with sewage water near Hitec-City, Durgam Cheruvu (Photo: DC/File)
Hyderabad: Cyberabad, a new city built with a planned sewerage model, is facing quite a few sewage related problems.
The most affected are residents of up-market colonies like Nectar Gardens, Kavuri Hills, Silent Valley Colony, Vasantha Gardens, Amar Cooperative Society and Marutinagar etc. that are adjoining the Secret Lake (Durgam Cheruvu).
Residents of these expensive properties are fed up with the stench emanating from the Durgam Cheruvu and are fighting a losing battle against the swarms of mosquitoes that force them to keep their windows close, denying them the lake view.
Even the proposed works for diverting the sewage entering Durgam Cheruvu has been delayed due to delay in release of funds by the GHMC and the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Ltd.
The Water Board, in May 2012, had sent proposals to the Municipal Administration and Urban Development department requesting permission to take up works for interception and diversion (I&D) structures at Madhapur so that sewerage water do not enter the lake.
The cost of micro tunneling of pipelines and construction of a sewage treatment plant (STP) was estimated at Rs 35 crore. Based on the proposals, the MA&UD issued a government order in September 2012.
The tomb at Durgam Cheruvu, which has been open for years, has not been closed by the Irrigation department following which there is overflow of sewerage water. The water level is presently three feet lower than the FTL level and with the rain on Wednesday it is likely to increase by one feet.
Water Board impervious to stink:
The Water and Sewerage Board does not seem to be bothered by the fact that the city’s roads are stinking. While stinking roads and overflowing sewage is common during monsoons, Hyderabad’s roads stink with sewage overflows even when the weather is dry.
Most of the complaints are from Division-I (Goshamahal) in old city. Locals and business establishments from Bahadurpura, Doodbowli, Moghalpura, Azampura and Asmangadh have lodged complaints about overflowing sewer lines.
Areas under the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (Mahendra Hills) and West Marredpally are also among the worst hit areas. The 21 Water Board emergency teams to tackle overflowing drainage and manholes, meanwhile, seem to have disappeared.
M. Suresh from Vasavi Nagar, Ramanthapur, said, “We had complained 20 days ago, but till date there has been no inspection or cleaning up of the underground drainage line. Because of the choked drainage line, the sewage water is overflowing into Street No. 2 of Ramanthapur; the drain water is flowing on the main roads and reaching the residential area.
There’s a foul smell and mosquitoes, and people are unable to pass the lanes and by-lanes of the colony. Most of our children and elders are down with malaria and high fever.”
The drains in West Marredpally, especially along the road connecting the AOC centre, overflow throughout the year. The sewage water ends up flooding the road right from the police station. It gets very bad during monsoon or after heavy rains as the area is low lying.
The LIC Colony always faces a flood-like situation every monsoon. It’s the same at Mahendra Hills, East Marredpally. Residents of Dattatreya Colony in Asif nagar face the same issue of sewage overflow causing a stench throughout the colony. The stretch near SBI bank at the entrance of Rythu Bazaar, Mehdipatnam, also emanates an unbearable stench.
All sewerage lines need regular dredging, which is not done by the Water Board. The Water and Sewerage Board needs Rs 17,000 crore to take up all works including repair and installation of modern sewerage lines and a proposal has been sent to the government, said sources.
60% online users are ‘unsatisfied’ :
The online complaint forum of the Water Board is filled with complaints of overflowing drains. The page also shows that above 60 per cent of the complainants have clicked on the ‘unsatisfied’ option and are unhappy with the way their complaint was addressed.
The rest of comments like ‘inspection not done yet’ have to do with pending complaints. The response from the Water Board team is always ‘grievance forwarded to the concerned department.’
Ahmed Farooqi, who complained of a mainline drainage overflow in Hafeez Baba Nagar, Kanchanbagh, had to complain three times online for inspection to be done in the area.
( Source : dc )
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