Froth in lake: Residents say toxic, pollution board claims detergent

HYDERABAD: A day after residents living around the Ramakrishnapuram Lake complained about a stream of toxic foam erupting from a surplus weir inside the lake, residents said the situation has only gotten worse.
On Tuesday, their worst fears came true after they detected coloured water in borewells and wells.
“I was shocked to see the water. It was pale yellow in colour.Is this how the government wants us to live in such polluted environment?“ questioned Phani Mylavarapu, a doctor and resident of Devinagar Colony, located on the banks of the lake.
He then alleged there is a construction taking place beside Rythu Bazaar. “The constructor has been dumping waste into the lake. That could have led to the froth,“ he said.
Similarly, other residents including GK Nagesh Bandu said that in the past 24-hours, the state government have been a mute spectator, witnessing the torment that re sidents are going through.
Following public outcry, municipal administration and urban development (MA&UD) minister K Taraka Ramarao took to a prominent website asking officials to inspect the area immediately.
In his tweet he said: 'Have directed TSPCB to go after the polluting industries aggressively. Have held a meeting with 300+ pharma CEO MDs seeking cooperation (sic)' When contacted, officials of the Pollution Control Board (PCB) dismissed the charges levied by the residents and claimed there was excessive amount of detergent in the water, which led to the formation of foam in the water. The detergent, they claimed was released from homes around the lake.
KTR's directive to the officials, however, failed to appease aggrieved residents.
“Over the years, several politicians and ministers have come to the lake, promising us a cleaner and better lake. But nothing has happened since,“ said BT Srinivasan, a member of the United Federation of Resident's Welfare Association.
According to denizens, the corporator of Neredmet, G K Sridevi reportedly told residents that the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation will look into their problem.
“If required she told us that she would ask the officials to lay an alternative pipeline, to carry away the pollutants. Now, wouldn't that pollute the ground water? If the water drawn from the well, is discoloured, we dread to think of water under the soil,“ said Phani.
Residents also recalled how over the last three-years, several public representatives have visited the lake and made false promises. “On March 25, the state government said that the lake would be restored under its flagship, Mission Kakatiya project. Three-months have gone by and the condition has only gone from bad to worse,“ said Srinivasan.