The Hindu : Elite colony cries for attention

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 08, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

Elite colony cries for attention

By R. Ravikanth Reddy

HYDERABAD July 4. The entry into the colony of Government officials and professionals of multi-national companies lies right beside a wine shop which also functions as the full-time bar. The nuisance created by drunkards there is enough for the residents coming back from their offices to spoil their mood and to give harrowing experience to women.

Welcome to Hemanagar colony situated right behind the Nacharam industrial area but falling under the Boduppal Grampanchayat limits in Ghatkesar mandal. Given the educational background of people of this colony, there would be hardly anyone visiting the wine shop but they have to encounter with drunkards daily. "The problem compounds because the local dadas with political clout run the show,'' says K. Brahmanandam, president of the Hemanagar Residents' Welfare Association.

``We are not asking them to close the shop but only contain the illegal bar that is leading to problems. Drunken men turn the entrance into an open toilet and create nuisance during evenings,'' Mr. Brahmanandam points out. Moreover, the bus shelter right beside the wine shop serves as the front office of a small hotel that serves snacks and tea.

As one enters the colony after going through this harrowing experience, roads, which were laid 15 years ago and now in poor condition, welcome them. "Several `Janmabhoomis' have come and gone by but their condition has not improved,'' says a resident. In fact, they have lost count of the number of petitions they have given.

The biggest problem plaguing the area is the lack of drainage lines. The residents have submitted several representations to officials and also to the local MLA who is also the Home Minister, T. Devender Goud. But only false promises are made and no concrete steps have been taken. "We have been fighting seriously for it for the last 16 months and even the Janmabhoomi platform was also used but officials turned a blind eye towards our problem. If they don't act, the colony will soon turn into a slum,'' says, Mr. Brahmanandam.

Given its proximity to the industrial area, the problems have compounded. A nala carrying wastage from the A.P. Foods factory ends right in the middle of the colony leading to stagnation of waste water and thus inviting host of health hazards. "The Grampanchayat should view it seriously or else it would affect the entire colony and the village,'' says a resident.

On record, the residents get drinking water from the Manjeera pipeline but what actually flows from taps is a mix of borewell water and drinking water. "We have paid Rs. 6,000 each for the Manjeera water pipeline but they supply us from the industrial pipeline,'' Mr. Brahmanandam points out. He wants the inert officials to act on their problems during the ongoing Janmabhoomi at least.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Elite colony cries for attention

Five criminals nabbed, property recovered

Seven-seater mishap toll rises to five