Hyderabad
Even as the years passed, the cleaning works of Hussain Sagar remained unfinished. The government's intention to fill the historic Hussain Sagar with clean waters did not make any progress. The mission was started with a huge fanfare but lost in the midway. Although nearly Rs 326 crore was spent from 2006 to 2021, the result is a big disappointment.
A very small fraction of work has been completed and a lot is yet to be done. Despite the announcement that the diversion of the Kukatpally canal has been completed, it is a matter of concern that industrial waste from the canal is still flowing into the reservoir. The removal of effluents of bulk drug and pharma companies stored in the deep bed of Sagar was also put on hold.
The cost of the Hussain Sagar cleaning so far is about Rs 326 crore. Works completed so far:
1. Construction of STPs and solid waste disposal in 2006 at a cost of Rs.270 crore
2. Kukatpally Nala diversion works with Rs. 56 crore in 2014
3. Waste removal with an eight-foot excavator under the auspices of GHMC in 2015
4. Utilization of Canadian company Ajax's satellite-based technology to increase the percentage of oxygen in ocean waters under the auspices of HMDA from 2017 to 2021.
Works still pending:
1. Improving the water quality of the reservoir, measures should be taken to prevent solid waste from entering the reservoir.
2. Removal of tons of solid waste formed at the bottom of the reservoir through the process of dredging.
3. Complete diversion of sewage from four Nalas.
4. Conserving the biodiversity of the reservoir and its surroundings
5. Improve water quality to the extent that reservoir water is used for landscaping and gardening purposes.
6. Ringsaver Mains to be built around the Hussain Sagar and ensure sewage water does not go into the reservoir. An arrangement should be made that only purified water enters the reservoir. An aeration system should be set up to increase the percentage of oxygen in the reservoir.