Huge quantities of construction and other waste dumped in Hamid Khan Kunta, also know as Banjara Lake, by GHMC contractors has greatly reduced the capacity of the lake, Jasveen Jairath, advisory board member of Basthi Vikas Manch (BVM) has said and demanded that the lake be dredged and cleaned.
Also, the interception and diversion (I&D) structures constructed by the Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) are not working properly, she said.
Speaking at the launch of BVM on Sunday, for basthis surrounding the lake, like Uday Nagar and Ambedkar Nagar, she said the Manch will act as a platform for the residents of the basthis to come together and voice their problems to be taken up with the government.
BVM was launched in collaboration with Save Our Urban Lakes (SOUL) and Citizens Welfare Association (CWS), and is supported by SaciWaters. P Manohar Babu, HMWSSB director (operations) and Ronald Rose, GHMC additional commissioner (planning) were present at the launch.
In response to the problems cited by Jasveen, Manohar Babu said the I&D structures at the lake are not working as huge quantities of plastic dumped in the lake is blocking the pipeline and not allowing sewage to flow through it. Though they clean it from time to time, the problem persists, he said.
Ronald Rose said as people have constructed houses in the area before a plan was laid out, it now becomes a problem to lay pipelines.
Though they are trying to remove the plastic from the lake, they do not have enough man power to take up the work. So, they have proposed to entrust the job to contractors, he said. Basthi residents are adding to the problem by throwing thrash in plastic bags in the lake, he added.
Jasveen demanded that the nala be covered by conical pigeon net and a closed chamber for sewerage flow.