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Hyderabad: Residents Revolt Against Foul STP Plans
19 Apr
Summary
- Residents protest proposed sewage plants due to pollution fears.
- Concerns raised over National Green Tribunal siting guidelines.
- Officials state relocating plants is not feasible due to critical need.
Residents of Ameenpur and Gandhamguda, near Gandipet in Hyderabad, have voiced significant opposition to proposed sewage treatment plants (STPs) in their residential areas. Concerns center on potential pollution, offensive odours, and associated health hazards. In Ameenpur, residents protested the planned 100 MLD STP, urging its relocation to a non-residential zone following proper consultation. They emphasized the need for projects to respect quality of life in densely populated areas.
Similarly, Gandhamguda villagers object to a 36.5 MLD STP being built on land previously designated for a school. They argue the site is too close to approximately 3,000 families, violating National Green Tribunal (NGT) guidelines requiring a minimum 500-meter buffer. Residents are calling for a halt to construction and a feasibility study for an alternative site.
Hydderabad Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) officials consider relocation impractical, highlighting the STPs' essential function in processing regional wastewater. They pointed to existing STPs in residential zones and assured that modern measures would prevent odour issues during normal operations.
