Residents deflate GHMC plans to turn land into dumpyard

Uppal: In what can be termed as a perfect example of citizen activism, the residents of Kurma Nagar and Uppal Hills thwarted the efforts of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to turn an open area near Kurma Nagar into a dumping yard. 

At 12:30 am on Wednesday, four trucks filled with debris entered the area close to Kurma Nagar but citizens rushed to the spot and deflated the tyres and stayed put at the spot the whole night.  They erected tents in front of the lorries. The agitators prepared food on the road itself and decided not to budge till the lorries were removed.

 One of the residents, Nomula Mysaiah, Kurma Nagar colony president, said that earlier they submitted a memorandum to municipal officials, MLA and local corporator opposing the dumping yard. Residents allege that the GHMC cleverly sent four lorries late at night. Another resident Baja Anjaiah complained that dumping yard would cause diseases to the local people and added, “We will not let this place turn into another Jawahar Nagar.”

In spite of several attempts to contact the in charge deputy commissioner Vijay Krishna proved futile. The deputy commissioner of Uppal Circle is presently on a tour to America.

Baja Anjaiah asks, “How can the GHMC send the lorries when there is no deputy commissioner in office?”
The four lorries are still parked on the road and the residents are keeping vigil. Nomula Mysaiah says, “We are determined to stop this at any cost. We have been hearing horrifying stories about diseases at Jawahar Nagar.” 

BY Ramesh Orsu