Despite the National Green Tribunal (NGT) took a serious note of the impassive attitude of the authority in safeguarding the historic Bum-Rukn-ud-Dowla Lake at Shivrampally, the situation on the ground appears remain unchanged as the water hyacinth has overpowered the entire surface while grey water remain getting marked into the water body.
The water body is surrounded by several colonies from where the grey water is getting into the lake while water hyacinth grows over the years to such an extent that the entire surface was overpowered by the floating aquatic plant.
“As long as the sewerage is getting into the water body, the situation will not improve. The entire water body spreads over an area of 18.5 acres and we made attempts on more than one occasion to clear off the water hyacinth. However, the aquatic water reemerged over the surface in just a matter of a few days. We find ourselves in a catch-22 situation when it comes to deal at Bum-Rukn-ud-Dowla Lake,” informed an Engineering Official on the request of anonymity.
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Only last month the NGT warned the officials against violation of orders saying it may attract imprisonment upto three years and fine upto Rs.10 crores besides seizure of salaries of the erring officials. While handing a last opportunity for compliance, the Tribunal made it clear that the sewage being discharged into the lake should be diverted to the destined STP besides the water quality of the treated water should be improved and posted the matter of 21st October.
However, the GHMC engineering officials are having their own assertion when it comes to compliance of the court order.
“We are trying to complete the sewerage diversion works around the lake on war footing. Already 600 mm diameters of pipeline works with a cost of Rs.40 Lakhs have been grounded to a length upto 400 meters at Raghavendra colony near the lake,” informed C.Nagi Reddy, Assistant Engineer GHMC Circle No.11, Rajendranagar.
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Another two similar works of 310 meters and 395 meters in upward direction at Shastripuram Colony are in the pipeline, he said adding that “These works required additional funds of Rs.49.85 lakhs and Rs.93 Lakhs respectively to cover the entire lake with underground sewerage diversion system. The entire diversion line from Bum-Rukn-ud-Dowla Lake to Mir Alam Lake STP covers the length upto 500 meters and will take nearly two to three months to get complete depending upon the early approvals of the projects.”
