Damaged goods, hospital waste dumped at Shah Hatim Talab

HYDERABAD: After the deluge, Shah Hatim Talab located on the backside of Golconda Fort and the seven tombs is being used as a dumping site by residents and hospitals.
Not just construction waste, household goods and hospital paraphrenalia damaged in the recent rains are finding their way into the water body. “Furniture and household goods that could not be salvaged from the floods are being dumped in the lake by the residents,” said Mohammed Mamshad Ali, a resident of Nadeem Colony, a stone’s throw away from the lake.The colony was one of the worst-affected areas in the floods.
Praveen, assistant executive engineer, irrigation department, said steps would be taken to clean the mess. “It has come to our notice that damaged items and goods are being thrown into the water. We are in the process of clearing this up. Within a week, the talab will be cleansed,” he said.
Throwing light on the larger issue of the shrinking lake due to encroachments and dumping of debris, Mohammed Safiullah of Deccan Heritage Trust said Shah Hatim Talab had an area of 100 acres once. “Now, it has been reduced to about 20 acres. The dumping is happening even as the nearby Nadeem Colony had faced one of the worst deluges in recent times,” he said. Located next to the Naya Qila wall, this water body has been a source of drinking water and contributed to recharge of groundwater in the area.