Hyderabad: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation had stipulated last year that sewerage treatment plants (STPs) in commercial, industrial and residential structures must be set up, but it has not checked to see if this has indeed been followed.
STPs are mandatory for apartment blocks with more than 100 flats, and building plans for commercial, industrial and residential structures of over 10,000 square metres must have a provision for establishment of an STP. However, the corporation has not been inspecting residential or commercial structures across the city to see if its own orders are being carried out.
Given the current construction boom in the city, existing water bodies will turn into cesspools if sewage treatment plants are not constructed, as untreated sewage flows directly into them. Already, several water bodies including Khajaguda Lake, Pariki Cheruvu, and Nalla Cheruvu are on the verge of extinction.
To give just one instance of the corporation’s negligence, it issued permission for construction of 17 structures on more than 10,000 square metres near Khajaguda Lake, and has not inspected whether STPs have been constructed in any of the high rise buildings that have been erected. Sewage from these buildings is discharged directly into the lake. This scenario is repeated across the city.
A senior GHMC official gives the usual excuse of paucity of staff and claims that it is the moral responsibility of citizens to protect nature and civic bodies cannot take action on everything.
However, he did say the corporation will send “certain recommendations” to the state government to be included in the new Municipal Act which is being drafted. The corporation will recommend that in case of a violation, the fine will be levied on property tax and if payment is not made, the penal amount will be increased from two to 10 per cent.
The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, too, has put the onus on owners of smaller buildings and less built-up area, to install decentralised water treatment plants for treating the waste water generated within the premises. HMWSSB will provide technical guidance for those interested in setting up the plants.
While installing a plant is one part, the other part is maintenance which comes under the GHMC’s jurisdiction which is paid for by the citizens.
