Nala smell welcomes devotees at temple

What once looked like flowing sewerage is slowly turning into a garbage dump yard under the Begumpet flyover. The stench reeking from this nala is a major cause of concern to not only the commuters, but it has become a breeding centre for mosquitoes and a health concern for devotees who visit the temple near it.

The nala flowing right next to the Sri Kesari Hanuman Temple starts from Fox Sagar carrying garbage and effluents from industries and colonies and goes into Hussain Sagar. What’s more? The depleting water levels in summer bring the garbage out in the open. The garbage consists of leaked sewerage effluents, industrial effluents from Jeedimetla area along with regular garbage that people throw into the nala.

Murthy (56), a commuter to Somajiguda has been taking the route for seven years. He says that the stink is an issue from the past year. "Water levels were higher last year and hence it didn't stink as much. Now, you can smell it at all the time as the water is dried up and the garbage is cooking due to the heat,” he laments.

While nalas across the city have not been covered, 40-year-old sewerage pipelines have started leaking at intermittent points. This leads to hazardous conditions at lakes as well poses threat to groundwater quality. Techinal Director of Hyderabad Metrolpolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) said that most of the sewerage pipelines are old and the city requires a new plan for sewerage treatment with increasing population.

"This is not a problem with only this nala. Nalas across the city are highly polluted due to sewerage pipeline leakage. We need a new sewerage treatement plan for the entire city, which will require huge funds. A quotation has been submitted already," he said. While the department waits for funds, pollution levels are only rising and garbage is piling up at water bodies across the city.

By Sasidhar Kocharlakota