HYDERABAD: Hyderabad was recently ranked 22nd in the country in the Swachh Survekshan Survey for cleanliness. One would, however, wonder the credibility of the rankings on a visit to Shastripuram colony, where underground drainage still remains a far-fetched dream.
While there are regular promises by the Telangana government of making Hyderabad a world class city, residents of Shastripuram colony still collect their toilet waste in septic tanks.
Though the colony was set up in 1976, four decades later waste water from domestic usage is simply let out on the roads or open plots creating a filthy and unsafe environment in the colony. Residents hire private tankers to clean septic tanks for which they have to spend money out of their pocket.
Shastripuram colony falls in the Rajendra Nagar circle of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation(GHMC). Its fate is shared by around 15-20 colonies in its surrounding. One of the sufferers also includes SVP National Police Academy located in its vicinity at Shivrampally, which is managing sewage with sewage treatment plants.
High Court order ignored by HMWS&SB
In 2015, the Hyderabad High Court had passed orders directing the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board(HMWS&SB) to provide sewerage connections to Shastripuram colony after Shastripuram Co-operative Housing Society approached the court which had termed inaction by HMWS&SB as violation of Article 14 and 21 of Indian Constitution and of Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Act, 1989.
Sanjay Udgirkar, president of the housing society said, “We have done everything possible till now ranging from approaching local politicians to writing representations to HMWS and SB and even approaching the High Court but we still continue to suffer.” “Now, the only way left is to approach the Supreme Court,” he added.
Ibrahim Khan, another resident of the colony says, “Filthy water flowing out of the houses of my neighbours has been accumulating in front of my house for many years now. I had even written a letter to the Telangana chief minister, K Chandrasekhar Rao on the issue last year in February and complained many times to GHMC but to no avail.”
HMWS&SB resorts to blame game
The issue of Shasripuram Colony garnered a lot of attention. Financial support has also been promised for the construction of underground drainage by the local MLA and Hyderabad MP. However, the colony is losing out to blame game of HMWS&SB.
T Dasharath, deputy commissioner of Rajendranagar circle, GHMC said, “HMWS&SB has clear cut responsibility of ensuring sewage and water connections to all parts of Hyderabad metropolitan area as mentioned in the HMWS&S Act, 1989. The board cannot just wash its hands off the responsibilities. GHMC does not have a department to look after sewerage issues for the same reason.”