HYDERABAD: A recent report from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) that has listed the Musi river stretch among the most polluted rivers in the country and its water most dangerous, has taken the State Pollution Control Board by surprise. The Telangana PCB disagrees with the report and has decided to come up with its own ‘validated’ report.
The CPCB is monitoring water quality in India under the National Water Quality Monitoring Programme. The water quality data from various monitoring locations are analysed and based on the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels, the risk levels are identified. BOD is the amount of dissolved oxygen needed by aerobic biological organisms in water to break down organic material.
“They have not got it right. We have raised our apprehensions and will soon come out with our report. In fact, those are figures for up to 2012 that they have released now,” said N Raveendhar, senior environmental scientist, TSPCB. Musi is one of the 42 rivers in the country chosen under the National River Conservation Programme (NRCP). The department of municipal administration and urban development (MAUD) is the nodal agency for NRCP on Musi, whereas, HMWSSB and HMDA are the implementing agencies. The latest report on Musi’s pollution levels is nothing short of a blow to the State government and its pollution board.
The BOD level in Musi near Nagole was 34 mg/l and in Hyderabad 23 mg/l. Similarly, near Bachagudem in Medak district, the BOD level was as high as 50 mg/l. The BOD levels, more than 3 mg/l, means it does not meet the desired water quality criteria. Water bodies having BOD more than 6 mg/l are considered polluted and identified for remedial action.
According to Raveendhar, Musi is contaminated only for about 80 kms between Nagole in Ranga Reddy and Rudraveli at the Nalgonda border. “Quality of water is certainly good after a certain stretch between Bapughat to Pillayapalli. Almost 50 per cent of water is treated. That is around 700 MLD. There are treatment plants at Amberpet, Nagole and Nallacharuvu. The Attapur plant is under construction,” he explained.
Manjira river’s Gowdicharla stretch features on the list of rivers with BOD levels between 20 and 30 mg/l. River Krishna’s Wadepally stretch and Thangadi stretch in Mahbubnagar, Godavari’s Rajahmundry stretch, Maneru’s Warangal stretch, Tungabhadra’s Manthralayam stretch in Kurnool, and Pennar’s Puspagini stretch have all recorded water of undesirable quality.