HYDERABAD: In a shocking incident, a private septic tanker was caught while attempting to dump untreated waste into the protected Osmansagar (Gandipet) reservoir, one of Hyderabad’s main drinking water sources.
The incident occurred on Wednesday near Himayatnagar village within Moinabad municipality limits. Patrolling staff of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) intercepted the tanker near FTL Point No. 428 while it was attempting to discharge septic waste into the reservoir. Osmansagar supplies around 25 million gallons per day to several localities in both the old city and new city areas.
According to officials, the tanker, bearing registration number TG11 T1833, was operating illegally and was not registered with the Water Board. It was also found to be displaying the HMWSSB logo without authorisation, allegedly to mislead officials and evade checks. The driver, identified as Ramavath Shiva Naik (33), reportedly told officials that he was acting on the instructions of Niranjan, a resident of Himayatnagar.
Local residents said they noticed the tanker releasing septic waste and alerted authorities, following which the driver was detained. A criminal case, under Section 43 of The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Section 279 BNS, has been registered at Moinabad police station against the driver and the tanker owner, and an investigation is under way.
Residents described the incident as a serious lapse, pointing out that Osmansagar has been a protected drinking water source for more than a century. They demanded tighter surveillance and strict punishment to deter any recurrence, warning that even attempted pollution poses a risk to public health.
HMWSSB officials said the violations included unauthorised use of the Water Board logo and illegal operation of a septic tanker. They stated that any attempt to mix sewage with water in a protected reservoir could affect water supplied to lakhs of people and would attract criminal prosecution.
Responding to reports circulating on social media, HMWSSB managing director K Ashok Reddy said claims of large-scale dumping were misleading.
Osmansagar water safe, reassures Board
The HMWSSB managing director said the tanker was stopped while attempting the act and that no sewage entered the reservoir. He added that sewerage flows from surrounding areas are being addressed through sewage treatment plants under construction on both sides of the twin reservoirs, which are expected to be completed within six months.
The Water Board maintained that Osmansagar water remains safe and that drinking water supplied to Hyderabad undergoes three-stage chlorination in line with IS 10500:2012 standards. Water from Gandipet is treated at the Asifnagar and Mir Alam water treatment plants, where quality tests are conducted hourly.
In a Nutshell
Private septic tanker caught while attempting to dump untreated waste into Gandipet reservoir
Osmansagar supplies about 25 million gallons per day to the city
Criminal case registered against driver and tanker owner
HMWSSB says no sewage entered the reservoir; water remains safe