The long awaited plan to cleanse Hussainsagar of its pollution that has been accumulating over the decades looks at addressing some major concerns in the coming months.
The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), which has been involved with the Hussainsagar and Catchment Area Improvement Project, taken up with assistance of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), hopes to be able to complete and commission five Interception and Diversion (I&D) structures by the mid-year. The locations of these structures include the points of Fatehnagar, Necklace Road and Picket.
Four of these I&D structures aimed at stopping and diverting the pollutants flowing into the lake are being set up by the HMDA while the fifth one is taken up by Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB). “These will be ready by June-July and once diversion is in place properly, that much of sewage inflow is reduced,” says HMDA Member (Environment), Sunil Kumar Gupta.
Sewage treatment
Three sewage treatment plants of 30 million litres per day (MLD), 20 MLD and 5 MLD capacities too are scheduled to be completed and commissioned this year. Another component for cleaning the nearly 4.8 square km lake with a 14 km perimeter has been to set up sewage lines.
The HMDA along with consultants have studied the nalas from mouth-to-end and worked out the zones with sediments that need to be taken care of. Also, the officials are trying to go for suction method for dredging. “We are trying to ensure that the lake bed is not disturbed while dredging and instead looking at a method to suck the sediments, which are of high nutritive values and can be used after drying for our green areas,” he says.
Once these measures are in place, no sewage would then flow into the lake and Mr. Gupta added that only treated water would be allowed and that too as required to maintain the hydrological balance of Hussainsagar.
