HYDERABAD: Uppal Municipality is on the threshold of becoming the first municipality in the State to have total underground drainage system in place, excluding the municipal corporations. Final touches are being given to the system, which will be fully functional by May-end. The second phase of the project covering the areas of Ramanthapur and Uppal taken up at a cost of Rs. 22 crores is almost complete and officials were awaiting the installation of the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at Nallcheruvu to enable them to link the sewage lines to it before releasing into the Musi river. The first phase was taken up at a cost of Rs. 10 crores covering the entire Habsiguda area.

M.S.S. Somaraju, Municipal Commissioner said the new system was designed to meet the requirements of another 20 years taking into account the rapid expansion of the area and the increasing population. The project was designed and taken up in association with the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board (HMWSSB), which is coordinating similar works in all the surrounding municipalities.

A major portion of the money was raised with Government assistance while the municipality itself contributed Rs. 3 crores from its funds. The proposals were submitted under the Eco-Conservation Project to get maximum assistance from the Government. Around Rs. 3 crores was raised from the residents with each dwelling in the slums contributing Rs. 2,000, individual households Rs. 4,000 and each flat Rs. 5,000.

Residents of Habsiguda contributed Rs. 2 crores in the first phase out of the Rs. 10 crore project as their share.

However, works on the STP at Nallacheruvu were delayed due to land acquisition problems. "Around 30 acres have been acquired so far and HMWSSB and Revenue officials are working towards its completion," says Mr. Somaraju expressing the hope that it will be functional by May-end.

Officials further clarified that unless the households doled out their contribution they would not be connected to the new lines. Moreover, the all-important water connection would also be stalled if people do not pay up for their sewage lines.

Mr. Somaraju says a door-to-door survey will be done after the STP is completed to ensure that all houses are connected to the lines and the contributions made.

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