Patancheru: Constituency profile in Greater Hyderabad

Neck-n-neck between Congress and TRS

Bad health and heavy pollution still haunt voters

The Patancheru constituency came into existence in 2009 after its delimitation. It is a constituency under the Greater Hyderabad limits which falls under the Medak district. Bolaram, Kothapally, Sulthanpur, Bhanur, Ramchandrapur, BHEL and Thellapur are the key areas under the constituency. Congress’ T Nandeshwar Goud is the sitting MLA. There are 2,76,775 voters in the constituency with 1,47,982 men, 1,28,755 women and 37 in the others category which is the highest in the Medak Parliamentary constituency.

Demography:

There are 23 panchayats in the Patancheru mandal. Once applauded for its rapid industrialisation, the area received harsh criticism for pollution and its effect. The constituency is home to a large number of pharmaceutical manufacturers, which has resulted in local river water being the most drug polluted water in the world. The highest level of drug pollution in water was found in 2009. The pollution is a result of waste being dumped into the river by the pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Developments:

The MMTS service under phase-II of the project from Patancheru- Tellapur was sanctioned by the Centre and State governments at a cost of Rs 32 crore. The Outer Ring Road (ORR) stretch from Shamirpet-Patancheru was opened in 2012. This connects the Rajiv Rahadari with Mumbai Highway via Sultanpur, Dundigal and Medchal.

The GHMC this month has asked Ramky Enviro Engineers to take over the door-to-door collection of garbage in Patancheru, to sort out waste management issues in the constituency. The Water Board also sanctioned water supply distribution network for Patancheru municipal circle at a cost of Rs 58.19 crore.

The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) imposed a moratorium on setting up new industries or expanding existing ones in Patancheru industrial cluster after a Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) survey showed high pollution levels in Patancheru-Bolaram area. According to the analysis the pollution levels increased drastically 2010 to 2013.

Between August 2011 and January 2012, a public-private partnership was developed between the municipality of Patancheru and a women's self-help group. Small-scale composting units were developed in the core industrial area along with a host of institutions after a survey of marketing strategies.

Problems:

A research carried out by Osmania University College for Women in 2012 pointed out that residents of Patancheru area suffer from a variety of respiratory problems including chronic pulmonary disease, tightness in the chest and morning cough. Both air and water quality in the area fails the ambient environment quality tests. The team found that the air pollutant concentrations are relatively high in densely populated congested locations and more prominent at industrialised zones. Effluent discharge into water bodies continues even now at Kajipally and Bolaram. Apart from the resultant pollution in a highly industrialised area, problems of road conditions have been plenty for residents and sanitation, which was only acknowledged this month by the civic body.

Politics:

If it had not been for the Rahul Gandhi’s phone call, the incumbent Nandishwar Goud would have joined the TRS. It is likely that he would get a ticket from the Congress but there is fierce lobbying for tickets in the party. Nadishwar Goud is a strong leader and he can turn the majority of BC votes in his favour.

Medak was the hub for T- movement and there is strong sentiment in the all the segments. The Congress and the TRS are battling it out to convert the sentiment into votes. TRS is likely to field Gali Anil Kumar Reddy. TDP has neither a strong cadre nor leader. It is going to be neck-and-neck between the Congress and the TRS.