Hyderabad: The city sewerage board and HMDA together have spent over Rs 600 crore to build 16 sewage treatment plants in Hyderabad. Another Rs 15 crore to Rs 20 crore is being spent for remodeling the STPs.
But not one drop of treated water is of any use to the general public. The STP at Amberpet does not treat sewage water adequately before it enters the Musi. This was also identified by the National Green Tribunal team that was in the city to inspect the dewatering of Hussainsagar.
The city faces a shortage of 100 million gallons of water per day and though there is an opportunity to use 90 MLD of the treated water, it is not being done. The treated water from the STPs can also be used for the forest cover in the Greater Hyderabad area.
As against 1,250 MLD of sewer water, only 750 MLD is treated and the remaining is diverted directly into the Musi.
The two civic bodies spent Rs 669 crore on the construction of the STPs and Rs 28 crore per annum is being spent for their maintenance and to pay electricity bills.
At the Prasantnagar STP the total capacity of 12 MLD is not fully utilised as sewer water enters the pond. At the Mullakatva STP, 5 MLD of treated water is again directed into the sewer canals, not even a single tanker of water is used. At the 30-MLD capacity KIMS STP, treated water again flows back into the pond.
Against a capacity of 5 MLD, the STP at Durgam Cheruvu receives 35 MLD. Hence the tank is filled with sewer water.
Of the 20 MLD at Hussainsagar (Khairatabad), there is a continuous availability of 15 MLD treated water. The opportunity to save Rs 1.30 lakh per tanker for a two-month duration is lost.
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