The Hindu : It's a living hell in Swaroopa Nagar

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 28, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

It's a living hell in Swaroopa Nagar

By Suresh Krishnamoorthy

HYDERABAD June 27. No Manjira water. Inadequate supply of bore water for drinking purposes. No underground drainage and hence sewage overflows in open drains. Inadequate number of streetlights and no roads at all.

This, in short, is the civic scene in Swaroopa Nagar on the city's outskirts. Located in Ward No. 12 on the fringes of the Uppal Municipality, it has over a 100 independent houses. A typical locality neglected by the powers-that-be. The number of petitions the people have submitted only keeps increasing as days pass.

Swaroopa Nagar in particular bears the brunt of groundwater pollution with a nala passing through. The nala carries toxic effluents from industries in Nacharam. Yet, with lack of space, houses have come up on either side of the nala.

The toxic effluents and the regular sewage output of the houses have resulted in groundwater becoming polluted. This apart, there is no municipal water although most residents have paid the money for individual connections. With municipal authorities turning a Nelson's eye to the water issue, many a resident has spent hard-earned money on getting bores drilled.

Rues E.V. Sarma. "I moved in here two years ago after selling my property in Bandar because I thought my son would be settling here. But after buying land and building my house, I find many things sadly lacking. I do not have an alternative and do not know how long this state of affairs will continue."

Power supply in the area is erratic. "We do not know when power will go off. Neither are we told when power will come back,'' says Saraswathi, a housewife. There are no blacktopped roads in the entire area, comprising Sri Sri Nagar, Gandhi Nagar and Bharat Nagar, all clustered in Uppal. The Venkateswara temple road dissects the area. Streetlights too are inadequate and those that have been erected do not function many a time or the light bulbs get stolen. The fear of robbers getting away with what they want reigns supreme.

A cross-section of people feels that the councillor for Ward No. 12, E. Sarada, is not of much help. "Her husband, Yadagiri, behaves like the councillor. He is of no help to us either,'' regrets a youth who does not want to be named.

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