The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Restored lakes face pollution threat

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Thursday, Apr 03, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Restored lakes face pollution threat

M.L. Melly Maitreyi

Unauthorised constructions, untreated sewage contaminating water bodies

GHMC giving approvals without sewer lines in place
Residents route domestic sewage directly into lakes

Effort goes waste: Langar Houz lake that was restored by the HUDA gets polluted again.

HYDERABAD: Some of the highly polluted lakes that were restored and beautified under the HUDA’s Green Hyderabad Environment Programme (GHEP) face the threat of pollution yet again.

And the main source of pollution is unauthorised constructions that have been allowed to come up around the restored lakes, encroaching the buffer zones of lakes and even lake periphery with no proper sewage disposal system worth the name.

With the GHMC sanctioning building plan approvals even without a sewer network in place for these new constructions, the same old story is unfolding as residents route domestic sewage directly into the lakes defeating the very purpose of lake restoration programme, lament HUDA Lake Division officials.

The Langar Houz lake that was restored and beautified by the HUDA with a lake park and a 2.5 mld STP to treat the sewage before letting it into the lake has fallen victim to such indiscriminate approvals given for new constructions.

The direct inflow of untreated sewage into the lake has resulted in rapid growth of water hyacinth, a weed that thrives drawing nutrients from the untreated sewage.

Canals dug up

“The residents have dug up channels to let the sewage into the lake by even breaking the fence. When we tried to block the flow by placing sandbags, the irate residents did not relent. With local corporator and political leaders backing the residents, nothing much could be done. The matter has been taken to the notice of GHMC Circle IV Deputy Commissioner,” says Lake Division Executive Engineer Jayachandra.

The GHMC officials have been apprised of the situation. “It is not possible to maintain the quality of lake water if direct inflow of sewage into the lake goes unabated. Either GHMC should take over the maintenance of the lake or implement measures to stop direct sewage inflow,” he says.

Paradoxically, after the restoration and beautification of lakes like Safilguda, Saroornagar, Langar Houz, the areas in their vicinity have become hotspots for construction of apartment complexes encroaching into Full Tank Level and buffer zones of lakes. Permissions have been given for multi-storeyed complexes even in smaller plots by the corporation and constructions were allowed without proper sewage disposal system.

Meanwhile the Saroornagar MRO has been requested to take over the unauthorised plots close to the lake and hand them over to the HUDA for green belt development and leave no scope for further pollution. The HUDA officials had written to GHMC not to allow construction of such buildings. An FIR was filed in the case of constructions encroaching Saroornagar lake bund, Mr. Jayachandra says.

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