Untreated industrial wastes dumped in nala

Fateh Nagar: The nala from Kukatpally to Fateh Nagar and Begumpet is overflowing and flooding residential areas with chemical waste. As a result, the residents in the area are suffering from dizziness, especially in the mornings.

These industrial wastes should be moved to the Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) or the industries must establish own ETP to treat them before releasing them into water bodies. However, this is not the case as industries need to pay CETP for treating their effluents.

To save money, factories are brazendly directly dumping toxic wastes in water bodies and nalas. There are more than 140 industries at Jeedimetla, IDPL, Bal Nagar and Kukatpally. Recently, 5 MLD (million litres per day) capacity ETP was built, but it is receiving only only 1 MLD and where the rest goes is anybody's guess. Approximately 45 MLD of industrial waste is drained in a single day, it is learnt.

Suresh, a local resident, complained, "The issue was taken to the notice of the GHMC officals many times but they have not responded. Being next to the nala, we are unable to bear the foul smell. Some are even falling sick and getting hospitalised.

It will be horrific if it rains." Hussain, another resident, said,"It is hard to breathe in the evenings because chemicals will be released and the air will be thick with the nauseating smell. No official has responded till now despite complaining many times." Fatima Begum living in the vicinity of the nala said, "Jeedimetla has become notorious with the industrialists throwing their waste into open nalas. If the officials take action against them, it will be better."

Kumar Pathak, Executive Engineer at PCB, RR district, says, "We are regularly monitering nalas, industries and CETP. In the past there were small-scale industries at Balanagar and Fateh Nagar. They would directly dump their effluents and waste in the nala. But in recent years we took stringent action against them and we closed 42 electro plating units.

Presently there are two treatment plants, one is at IDPL which is under state government and the other is Jeedimetla CETP which is established by all private firms in partnership. There are three types of industrial wastes: waste water which is cured at factory level; chemical waste which is sent to CETP; and thirdly untreated effluents channelled into water bodies.

If any factory is found violating PCB rules, there will be stringent action aganist them and the company will even be sealed. If there are any grievances, people can visit our official site to make complaints or contact us. There will be swift action."