Hyderabad: Residents of areas located along the nala which flows from Hussainsagar and joins the Musi river will have to bear more stench, health hazards, groundwater pollution and, in the worst case, inundation.
The canal flows along Gandhinagar, Ashokna-gar, Himayatnagar, Chikkadpally, Barkatpura and Nallakunta. The reason: Sewage and highly polluted industrial waste from the Kukatpally nala will be diverted past Hussainsagar directly into the nala.
The scenario post the diversion is not clear as the government has not conducted an environment impact assessment. Every day, up to 350 million litres of sewage and highly polluted industrial waste water, without any dilution, will directly flow into the nala during peak hours.
Apart from the increasing stink and health hazard, there is also a threat of increased groundwater pollution. A recent study by Os-mania University resear-chers showed that the concentration of Total Dissolved Solids in groundwater was bet-ween 1,500mg/l and 1,800mg/l in Kukatpally, Sanathnagar, Balanagar and Jeedimetla.
WHO standards are below 1,000mg/l. Chloride, sulphate and nitrate concentrations were also found to be beyond safe levels.
The pollutants could well affect the groundwater along the Hussain-sagar nala.
Dr P. Manikya Reddy, one of the researchers, said. “As polluted water flows, it seeps into the ground. There is no doubt that as it flows through in city it will affect the groundwater quality.”
During the 2000 floods, many areas along the Hussainsagar were inundation. With increase in water levels due to nala diversion, this threat is also bound to increase.
The worst part is that the pollutants will flow directly into the Musi. An activist of Save Our Urban Lakes said, “The 339 million litres a day Amberpet sewage treatment plant is running full. Where will the extra waster water from Kukatpally nala be treated? The Amberpet STP treats sewage water. The Kukatpally nala carries industrial polluted water. This will flow downstream and affect villagers and their crops.”
