HYDERABAD: For the
second time
in a span of nine months, residents of
Noornagar
located on Road no 10, Banjara Hills, are faced with the issue of severe water contamination.
Much like the previous incident, this time too locals rue how their taps have coloured water flowing out of them, giving off an unbearable stench. Worse, it has led to serious health implications – especially skin problems – forcing many to seek treatment for their rashes, black spots, persistent itching and other health concerns.
When TOI visited the locality this week, it found that bore water being collected by the 300-odd families there was brownish in colour and seemed unfit for any use. The stink was also inescapable.
20-30 dyeing units operational
Residents squarely blame the dyeing units operating on its fringes for this water pollution and add how repeated complaints made with the authorities concerned have failed to fix it. They alleged that these units arbitrarily dump toxic waste into the drains flowing in the area that leads to ground water contamination.
During its visit, TOI also found at least 20 to 30 dyeing units functioning around the area using bleaches and other chemicals. While majority of them were operating out of individual houses, there were some that were located within multi-storied buildings.
“We are fed up with this groundwater pollution. It has become a frequent occurrence when we turn on our taps. The water is filthy and has a thick layer of foam on the surface,” said A Masthanvali, an IT professional working with an MNC, speaking for all other residents. They collectively urged the Ground Water Department and Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB) to either shut down the dyeing units or shift them out of the residential pocket to avoid a bigger calamity in the future.
“Even in May 2023 when this happened, we approached the authorities requesting that something be done about it. But, sadly, they paid no heed to our appeal,” said N V Reddy, another local. He claimed that though GWD authorities had collected water samples during that time, the results have still not been made public. Even an online complaint registered with the TSPCB yielded no response, he added.
When TOI contacted B Sangeetha, environmental engineer of PCB, Hyderabad reginal office, she said, “I am aware of the pollution incident. However, I haven’t received a written complaint from the residents of Noornagar yet. I will send senior officers to the area once they raise a complaint.” GWD officials, on the other hand, maintained that TSPCB alone had the authority to take action against the dyeing units.
“When we received the first complaint officials visited the area and collected water samples that were sent to our own lab at the Directorate, GWD, Hyderabad. The results are yet to be received,” an official stated.
‘We do not pollute’
Meanwhile, dyeing unit owners insisted that they were following all safety norms to ensure the safety of locals. “We are not harming the locals and have taken care to discharge untreated effluents to prevent groundwater pollution. Except for one or two by-lanes in the locality, no complaint was received from others in Noornagar,” said Mohd Jabbar, who has been running a dyeing unit for the past three years.
Another dyeing unit in charge, Syed Farooq added: “Most units discharge the waste into open nalas close by during the night. Nothing is dumped in the drains.”
English (US) ·