HYDERABAD: In a notable development, a division bench of Hyderabad HC on Tuesday directed GHMC Commissioner to take immediate action against those responsible for pollution of Musi River and submit an ATR within 21 days.
“We want Musi to be free from pollution. Those responsible shouldn’t be spared. There should not be the release of effluents or wastage into Musi. Its revival is possible only if action is taken against errant persons,” the bench noted.
The bench of Chief Justice TBN Radhakrishnan and Justice V Ramasubramanian was passing this order in a PIL filed by the Forum for Good Governance, represented by its secretary M Padmanabha Reddy, seeking direction to the Telangana government to constitute a body having a similar mandate as the Sabarmathi riverfront development corporation or a special purpose vehicle for speedy cleaning of Musi river.
When the matter came up for hearing, the bench asked for the reasons that were leading to pollution of the Musi river. It found that apart from industrial wastage, the release of effluents from residential apartments/colonies, educational institutions, hospitals, hotels and so on were primarily responsible for the said pollution.
“What the GHMC is doing to prevent entry of wastage into the river. Musi river which is in ICU has now reached the Coma stage, and there is a need to take firm steps to prevent it from getting worst. We will not tolerate if the GHMC fails to take stringent action against the errant persons who are dumping sewerage into Musi”, the bench warned.
While adjourning the case hearing, the bench directed the GHMC commissioner to take firm action against the errant persons responsible for pollution of Musi river and to submit the action taken report in three weeks.