Hyderabad: Officials of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), who are dumping water hyacinths at Jawaharnagar dump yard after removing it from lakes in and around the city, are inviting wrath of the public and environmentalists alike.
Environment activists from the city wrote a letter to the state government, expressing their concerns with the decision.
“Water hyacinth is a major contributor to the spread of mosquitoes. During the monsoon season, one needs to be wary of the diseases they can spread. The GHMC called for tenders for the removal of the weed. While this may come as good news, the spot where they choose to dump the waste is unfortunate,” said B.V. Subba Rao, a noted city-based environmentalist.
The dredged hyacinth will now find a place for itself amidst the city’s refuse at Jawaharnagar dump yard. Officials in the know of things said tenders to the tune of `31 crore were called for the removal of the weed.
“The selected agency will have to remove the weed, transport it to the dump, and ensure it does not cause any more damage,” said a senior official of the irrigation department, requesting anonymity.
Residents of the area are apparently unhappy with the decision as they are aware that the presence of water hyacinth would make it a breeding ground for the malarial larvae.
“We are already sharing space with the city’s refuse, now we have to deal with mosquitoes. It seems the government is doing everything in its power to make us die,” said Venkata Subba Rao, a resident of the area.
When contacted, officials of Ramky said they would have the figures of the amount of water hyacinth making its way to the dump yard on Thursday.
