Order of the National Green Tribunal In re: New item titled “Snow-like Chemical foam haunts” Appearing in Express News Service dated 08.09.2023 dated 26/09/2023.

The application has been registered on the basis of the news item “Snow-like Chemical foam haunts” published in Express News Service dated September 8, 2023. As per the news report a snow-like chemical foam has appeared in residential areas in Kakatpully as a frequent phenomenon. As per the view expressed in the news report, root cause of the foaming is pollution of Pariki Cherueu Lake which joins the Kukatpally nalla that drains into Hussain Sagar Lake.  It is further revealed from news report that the Gajularamaram dumping yard is situated on the upstream of Pariki Cherueu which pollutes the water. Proper segregation of waste is not carried out at the Gajularamaram dumping yard and the repeated foaming is the sign of total collapse of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and Telangana State Pollution Control Board.

The report by the Telangana State Pollution Control Board said that one major drain carrying domestic sewage joins the lake from upstream ( Lenin Nagar, Uma Devi Nagar, Chandra Nagar, Babani Nagar, Prakasam Panthulu Nagar) and small sewage drains from colonies located towards the North and West side also joining the lake. As per the report no industries are located on the upstream of the lake and no dumping of the chemical has been observed.

The report states that the foam is generated by account of fall of water from the height and the foam so generated at the outfall is carried away with the flow and gets accumulated near the culvert at Dharani Nagar. A perusal of the report reveals that the water of the lake is highly contaminated and is not even fit for outdoor bathing. The report places the water in category “E” i.e. fit for irrigation, industrial cooling, controlled waste disposal only.

Counsel appearing for the State Pollution Control Board has informed that a sewage treatment plant of 28 million liters/day (MLD) capacity on the upstream of Pariki Cherueu Lake is under construction to treat the sewage water generated from the colonies. He has informed that the STP is being constructed by the Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board.

The NGT directed notice to be issued to the  Hyderabad Metro Water Supply, through its Secretary and Sewerage Board and Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation through its Commissioner. They are directed to file their report within a period of 8 weeks.