Hyderabad: Hyacinth fully covers lakes in Meerpet

Locals are forced to shut their doors and windows to protect themselves from malodorous smell and mosquitoes. Even fogging is not being done regularly in some areas

Meerpet: The pollution levels in the lakes under the limits of Meerpet Municipal Corporation are increasing day by day. Pedda Cheruvu, Mantrala Lake and Nanda Lake in the division are filled with hyacinth. This is creating a lot of trouble for the residents in the division. The sewage water from nearly 200 colonies is entering into these lakes converting them into cesspools. A foul stench emanates from the lakes encompassing the nearby localities. Also, the lakes have become a breeding ground for mosquitoes whose rising population is creating havoc among the residents. The locals are forced to shut their doors and windows to protect themselves from malodorous smell and mosquitoes.

Many municipal officers visited the lakes, but everyone is ignoring the problem. Even fogging is not being done regularly in some areas. Locals are demanding that officials remove the hyacinth from the lakes and address the mosquito menace at the earliest.

Speaking on the issues, Municipal Commissioner Suman Rao said, "We discussed with HMDA officials on removal of hyacinth from the lakes. They promised to send the machinery within three days. At present we are conducting fogging activity with four machines and another four are being bought. Fogging will be done in every colony regularly. Our workers are putting the best of their efforts to control mosquitoes in the division."

"Earlier, precautions were taken to avoid mixing of sewage water from colonies with lakes. Officials should notice that this is polluting underground water and causing several diseases," says Gotte Srinivas, a resident of Jillelguda.

"Fogging is not being done by GHMC staff regularly. The increase in hyacinth and no fogging programmes, mosquito breeding is very high in the division.," says Nandini, a resident of Jillelguda.