Effluents and encroachments killing lakes in Hyderabad, KTR tells Assembly

Telangana Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister KT Rama Rao on Wednesday told the state's Legislative Assembly that domestic sewage and industrial effluents, along with encroachments, were polluting several water bodies in and around Hyderabad.

The Minister was replying to questions during Question Hour in the Assembly. 

"There are two types of sewage entering the water bodies in the city; domestic and industrial. There are laws that ensure that large apartments should have Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs). We have been enforcing it recently, and we will ensure that the lakes are protected," KTR said.

“A master plan is being prepared for setting up 60 sewage treatment plants and decentralise sewage treatment in the city,” KTR added.

Asked about the plans to fight encroachment, KTR said that a guard would be hired for each lake and be given a baton and a whistle, which will help ensure that the lake is not encroached. Illegal dumping into the water body can also be prevented with this, the Minister said.  

The state government has decided to appoint an IAS officer of Joint Commissioner level in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to oversee this programme, along with 150 uniformed personnel. 

KTR also said that the PCB, the police and the GHMC were looking into the surveillance of industrial areas, to ensure that effluents are not dumped into the water body without being treated.

The Minister also told the Assembly that there are 185 lakes under the limits of the GHMC, and Rs 287 crore has been sanctioned to clean and beautify 20 lakes.

Meanwhile, KTR also said that the Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB) had identified around 100 polluting industries in the city, which would be shifted away from the city limits.

“Shifting of pollution-causing industries from the city doesn’t mean that we are creating pollution problem on city outskirts. We have identified nine locations beyond Outer Ring Road for shifting these industries where common effluent treatment plants are being developed. This will prevent pollution on city outskirts,” he claimed.