Potable water is a dream here

Sewage water seeps into drinking water pipelines in Mehmoodguda

Hyderabad:21-09-2011 :Children showing sample water collected from the drinking water taps at Mahmood guda, in Secundrabad, as Drain Water pipeline going through Drinking water taps which resulting many health problems to the residents. PHOTO:M_SUBHASH

Tucked in the midst of this concrete jungle, a colony's repeated requests for clean drinking water are falling on deaf ears. Mehmoodguda in Chilkalguda circle is situated in the low-lying area and as a result it receives 24-hour supply of water, but the water is contaminated with sewage water. Though water looks clear at times, the distinctive stink warns anyone who dares to quench their thirst with it.

“Every time we lodge a complaint, Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) staff clear the drains and say that they have attended to the complaint. If we try to reregister the same complaint, HMWSSB always has the same answer that the problem is already resolved where as the water still stinks,” a resident of the colony, Jagadish Yadav, said. This has been the condition since last two years, he said.

Causal attitude

The colony has concrete roads and is also provided with the underground sewerage and water pipelines but this has proved to be a bane rather than an advantage. “The water pipes are contaminated with sewerage water somewhere on the upper areas resulting in the contaminated water supply in the whole of Mehmoodguda and adjoining low-lying areas. But none of the officials are looking into the matter. They treat it just like another monsoon related problem,” Shiva Kumar, another resident said.

While the Srinivasa Colony, which lies on a higher level, gets clean water, this contaminated water comes as their share, he said.

Children fall sick

“When water supply comes with good pressure, the smell is reduced and we think that the problem is resolved, but as the pressure goes down, the problem resurfaces. Many children in the locality have fallen sick because of this contamination and were treated for food poisoning,” Shobha, wife of Shiva Kumar said.

“During inspections or when we complain HMWSSB, personnel add chlorine to the water and conceal its smell. But next day the smell returns,” she explained. We are using only bore well water now,” she says.

The HMWSSB officials were not available for their comments.