Shoddy sewers plague colonies in Uppal

Nalas filled with stagnant garbage causing health problems in several colonies and contaminating ground water

​Hyderabad: The long stretch of nala fed by Musi River from Golnaka to irrigate the farmlands around Annapurna Nagar pollutes the area. The colony was formed about 50 years ago near Uppal. Not so long ago, water used to gush through the stretch. But, today, the nala is covered with garbage and sewerage waste. These wastes stagnate after reaching L & T Road opposite to Asian Cine Square, Uppal.

This nala flows through 22 colonies - Church Colony, Devendra Colony, Sri Ramananagar and the like. Residents in these colonies have been complaining of stink and mosquito menace throughout the year. To make the matters worse, people throw carcasses in the nala. On any given day, one can see the bodies of pigs, dogs and other animals floating in the water.

Uppal Corporator Anala Reddy, speaking to The Hans India, said “As garbage filled water remains stagnant, groundwater is contaminated. Because of this menace, residents in the 22 colonies suffer health problems. Contaminated ground water can cause anything from skin diseases to permanent damage to body parts.

Now, as there is no flow of water, garbage is stagnant for kilometres. The nala has become haven for breeding for mosquitoes causing diseases in animals and among people. These diseases kill domestic animals. The killed animals are thrown into the canal again creating more health problems.

There were two canals, one which collected rain water for irrigation and the other for the flow of sewerage. The sewerage waste from Ramanthapur was diverted to Nalla Cheruvu through pipelines. The diversion stopped flow of water in both the canals.

For people living around, it is an irritating to see drainage full of garbage for kilometres. Slums on the banks of the nala are adding to the pollution. In the absence of toilets, slum dwellers defecate and carryout their daily activities in unhealthy environment.

Asst. Engineer Venkanna from the engineering department of GHMC, explained the progress of work relating to the nala. He said “We have recently cleared the bushes and garbage from both the banks. We are trying to clear the garbage shortly.”.

Manish Rao (34), who parks his tempo next to the nala daily for the past 8 months, described his experience. “It has been like this since several months. There is no fencing or a warning sign or even an attempt to prevent people from throwing garbage into the nala by the govt. It has been stinking all the while. I cannot put in words how mosquitoes irritate you here by the evening.”

By: Sasidhar Kocharlakota