Open sewage drains are not the thing of the past. Not at least in the posh part of Hyderabad, which is being projected as a global destination by the Telangana Government. Piercing through the heart of Jubilee Hills is an open drain that is threatening the health of the local residents.
The open storm water drain passes through Road No. 41 near Pedamma Temple where a number of schools and eateries are located. Due to the callous attitude of the authorities, the sewage is also getting mixed in the drain which was only meant for rain water.
“I had admitted my kid in a school located very close to the open drain. I observed that my daughter fell sick frequently after she started going to school. Since my child is usually healthy, it was surprising for my family members. When I enquired I got to know that many students were falling sick, especially during monsoon. The stench from the drain is unbearable and the site is a breeding ground for mosquitoes,” said L. Shweta, a homemaker and a resident of Kavuri Hills.
Residents say that all their efforts to cover the drain did not work.
“There is every danger of kids falling into the flowing water,” said S. Krishna Reddy, a resident of Road No. 41. “We have told orally to the GHMC officials and also submitted representations to cover the drain, but the officials refuse to do it citing some reason or the other. One can observe that the colour of the water flowing through this drain indicates that it is sewage mixed with chemical waste. This has been going on for years,” he points out.
When asked about the issue, the engineering official in-charge of the area said that the problem would be solved soon.
“We cannot close the drain as foul smell will be unbearable. We will conduct a special drive soon to understand from where the sewage is flowing into the drain. We have already told the Hyderabad Water Board to ensure that sewage water does not get mixed with the rain water,” said Chinna Reddy, GHMC Executive Engineer.
