Hussain Sagar work halted

The Hussain Sagar Catchment Improvement Plan (HCIP) works have come to a standstill yet again. Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) cracked the whip on Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) for not adhering to the norms while dumping dredged waste and has directed the officials of the HMDA to stall the process. APPCB officials have also asked the HMDA officials to meet them for discussion regarding the same on Friday. There are piles of dredged waste rotting and emanating foul smell at Sanjeevaiah Park. With this comes the question, will the HCIP works ever be completed?

• APPCB raises concerns over dumping of wastes

• Serves notice to HMDA

• Dredged waste piles up at Sanjeevaiah Park

• APPCB to meet HMDA officials on Friday

As part of the HCIP, HMDA planned to clean Banjara, Balkapur, Picket and Kukatpally nalas as they carry effluents from nearby industries which later flows into the Hussain Sagar polluting the water. In the Phase I work that began in December 2012, the authorities started dredging work at Banjara, Balkapur and Picket Nalas.

Dumping woes

The initial plan was to dump the waste at the Jawahar Nagar dumping yard. But, this was cancelled after much hue and cry by the residents in nearby localities of the yard. Then the HMDA authorities contemplated on dumping wastes at quarries located behind the Hyderabad Central University (HCU) in Gachibowli. But this too was thwarted amidst protests by the residents. Finally, a 2.5 acres site at Gajularamaram on the outskirts of the city was selected as a dumping site. The Authorities at the APPCB greenlighted the site and dumping had been going on for the past four months and 20,000 tonnes of waste have been dumped so far.

Rain plays spoilsport

The joy of finding a dumping site, however, was only short lived for the HMDA. This time, the heavy rains that lashed the city spoiled the party for the HMDA. Because of the rains, the wastes got dissolved and again joined the water bodies nearby. Irked locals complained with the APPCB officials that the waste was getting dissolved in water bodies. The PCB officials, who inspected the site a week ago, flayed the officials of the HMDA for polluting the water bodies and for not undertaking safety measures at the yard.

According to the PCB officials there should be a clay lining constructed around the perimeter of the pit along with 90 cm thick HDPE sheet. But on inspection, it was found out that the sheet on the perimeter was only 15 cm thick and had issued notice, stalling the dumping works. According to the notice issued, the HMDA officials would now have to take permission from the APPCB even to move a single lorry.

Speaking to Hyderabad Hans, a senior official with HMDA said, “The waste that is being dumped is not poisonous, it’s only sediment. We have followed all the norms set by APPCB. The bottom of the pit is covered by 90 cm thick HDPE sheet and the walls are 15 cm thick HDPE sheets, as instructed by the APPCB officials. We have written a letter to the PCB in this regard.” At the end of the day unless the impasse between the HMDA and APPCB is solved, Sanjeevaiah Park will continue to rot with dredged waste. Meanwhile, the dredging works cannot be halted till the stalemate has been settled, as the waste would mix with the water again.