A colony overlooked by SCB

Though we have 7 parks, there is no maintenance. We have appealed to the SCB to solve our basic issues and an appeal had been made to Sujata Gupta, CEO, SCB on August 5 to visit our colony to apprise her on the development works taken up by us and to solve our civic issues

Ch Saibaba

P&T Employees Co-operative House Society is located near Karkhana in ward number 3 under the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) limits. It was planned and founded in 1982 by 82-year-old Dr T H Chowdary, Retd Chief General Manager, Andhra Pradesh Telecom Department. P&T Colony Residents Welfare Association was formed in 1999 registered vide no 6427/99 guided by the strict bylaws of the society. Since then, the colony developed in a phased manner with the active cooperation of the past and present office bearers and the residential community to bring it to its present status, where 85 families from all walks of life live in harmony in an eco-friendly environment. The colony is 3 kms away from the Secunderabad Railway Station and about a kilometre away from Jubilee Bus Station abutting the Rajiv Rahadari National Highway No 7.

The colony layout was completed in 1982 by the SCB, covering 94 plots, measuring between 300 and 600 square yards and spread over 8.3 acres of which 40 % (3.3 acres) was exclusively allocated for amenities viz open areas, parks, roads etc. The colony is a gated community with seven gates and seven parks with beautiful independent buildings and villas and excellent internal roads studded with greenery. The colony is abutted by Asbestos Colony and Janakpuri Colony. Just outside the gate of the colony, there are busy commercial and business establishments, restaurants and major public and private sector banks and their respective ATMs.

The term of the office in the colony is for 2 years. The present office bearers are Dr T H Chowdary president, Sunil Siddamsetty, secretary, Veena Sanghani, treasurer, assisted by six executive committee members who conduct periodical meetings to take up development works and resolve the issues of the residents.

Dr T H Chowdary talking to Hyderabad Hans said that they have initiated a borewell water project with underground irrigation system for watering the parks and trees on either side of the roads in the colony. “We have successfully restricted the apartment and commercial culture in the colony.

Though we have 7 parks, there is no maintenance. We have appealed to the SCB to solve our basic issues and an appeal had been made to Sujata Gupta, CEO, SCB on August 5 to visit our colony to apprise her on the development works taken up by us and to solve our civic issues”, he added.

Chowdary lamented, “We paid Rs 5 lakh in favour of SCB in 1982 for construction of an overhead tank in the colony. But they have used our funds elsewhere. When we question the authorities, they say that drinking water is being supplied to us. Water suppled is not sufficient for us and we are forced to depend on private water tankers.”

Dr I P Cheekoti, a paediatrician and resident of plot no 37 in the colony said, “The drainage system existing in the colony is 30 years old and needs widening to ensure free flow of sewage. In our colony, all the drain water from neighbouring colonies pass through our old drains leading to their perennial overflow on the colony streets.

The drainage stagnates at the first and second gate entrance near SBH branch premises and before my clinic. The bad smell which emanates affects me and has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes causing health problems to residents. My patients are scared to come to my clinic for treatment.”