Corporators blame encroachers for problems

GHMC, take note # 8

Overflowing sewage on roads has been an incessant problem in the Constituency. The Corporators blame increasing population and illegal encroachments leading to the leakage of the age-old pipes

Constituency: Musheerabad Voters’ profile:
The eight divisions have more than 2.24 lakh voters with 33,494 in Ram Nagar, 34,715 in Bagh Lingampally, 33,306 in Adikmet, 22,022 in Musheerabad, 31,928 in Bholakpur, 27,804 in Ghandi Nagar and 37,305 in Domalguda

The frequent draining of sewage in the streets of Musheerabad, especially near the fish market in Ram Nagar and animal skin market (tanneries) in Bholakpur, has been an unresolved issue from many years.

The popular fish market, which is situated on the stretch between Ram Nagar and Musheerabad, was always a challenging way for commuters; every three days the drainage overflows on the roads. A resident of Musheerabad, Narsimha Reddy said that the issue of drainage is troubling the locals and commuters from a long time.

“I am staying here from nine years and almost in every three or four days the drainage overflows. We frequently call the water works drainage clearing vehicle to stop the flowing drain,” he informed. “A high-quality salt is used to protect the fishes brought in the market and that salt when dissolved goes into sewage lines, corrodes the pipes, resulting frequent drainage leak,” he said.

Bholakpur, which is not far away from the fish market, has a similar problem. According to locals, powerful chemicals are used in tanneries in the area to wash animal skin and when these chemicals come in contact with sewage lines, it damages the pipes resulting in nonstop sewage flow on roads.

A private company employee and local, Abdul said that civic members of their area filed a number of complaints in this regard but, nothing has been done to address the issue. When contacted, ex-Corporator, Saritha Govind said that they have already submitted a proposal for the construction of the fish market in the area to the corporation but, they did not receive sufficient funds for the project.

Further, she informed that encroachment and illegal constructions in the area are also a reason for overflowing drainage. “The pipes were laid many years ago and are not thick enough. The population here as increased resulting in overflowing of drainage,” she said.

Mohammad Wajid Hussain, Corporator of Bholakpur said that the situation was very terrible a few years back. He said that he replaced several tanneries in his area. “Only few small godowns are there which create minimum wastes and that is not the reason for the leakage,” he said.

Lack of civic amenities
There is no primary health centre in Ram Nagar, Adikmet and Bholakpur areas. A resident of Bholakpur, Azmad said that pregnant women in their division have to go to neighbouring divisions for medical checkups.

He revealed that locals in their area, along with the Corporator have requested to the GHMC to setup a health centre but, the Corporation did not give any positive response. The area Corporator, Wajid Hussain said that he has done a lot of development in their division expect a primary health centre.

However, Corporator of Ram Nagar felt that their area does not require a medical centre because she believes, “We have many private medical establishments here”. The electric pillars in the constituency are also a cause of concern to the locals. The situation in the interior parts of Ram Nagar, Bholkapur, Adikmet, Domalguda and Kavadiguda is pitiable.

However, the problem in Ghandinagar Divison is not found much. The Corporators of the most affected areas, mutually said that due to unplanned constructions and high encroachment locals are facing such problems. “The shifting of pillars is a very hard job,” they mutually said.

The lack of basic amenities in the division has made the public aware in selecting the right members for the approaching elections. “We want a public representative who can address our community grievances and solve it. We have reported many issues and most of them are pending with the Corporation,” said a Bholakpur resident, Abdul.