Rangareddy: Massive garbage dumping activity reported just a few hundred metres away from the Osman Sagar (Gandipet) reservoir has triggered serious environmental and public health concerns among residents of Aziznagar and surrounding areas.
The dumping site, located on government land on Survey No.151, Himayatnagar, Moinabad, Rangareddy, which is extremely close to the Osman Sagar water body, is emitting a strong foul smell, affecting daily life for nearby residents. Locals allege that large quantities of municipal waste are being transported and dumped here from areas such as Narsingi, Gandipet, and nearby localities.
Threat to Osman Sagar Water and Ecosystem
Osman Sagar is one of Hyderabad’s critical drinking water reservoirs and an ecologically sensitive zone. Environmental experts warn that unscientific garbage dumping so close to the reservoir poses a direct risk of water contamination, especially during monsoon runoff.
The decomposing waste can release toxic leachate, plastics, and chemical pollutants that may seep into the soil and eventually reach the water body. This could pollute the Osman Sagar ecosystem, endanger aquatic life, and compromise water quality.
Wildlife at Risk
The area around Osman Sagar supports diverse wildlife species, birds, and flora. Locals fear that continuous dumping is disrupting natural habitats and exposing animals to plastic waste, toxic materials, and human interference.
Environmental activists caution that such dumping could lead to long-term ecological damage, including loss of biodiversity and irreversible harm to the region’s natural balance.
Questions Over GO 111 Enforcement
Residents are questioning the authorities over the apparent contradiction in policy enforcement. For years, the 10-kilometre protection zone under GO 111 restricted construction and development around Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar in the name of environmental protection.
“When GO 111 existed, even basic development was denied citing reservoir protection. Now, how is such large-scale garbage dumping being allowed so close to the water body?” locals ask.
Citizens argue that dumping waste poses a far greater environmental threat than regulated development, and allowing it undermines the very purpose of reservoir protection norms.
Public Health Impact
The foul smell from decomposing garbage has made living conditions difficult in parts of Aziznagar. Residents complain of increased health risks, including respiratory issues, mosquito breeding, and the spread of infections.
They warn that continued dumping could turn the area into a permanent landfill, severely impacting property values and quality of life.
Demand for Immediate Action
Local residents and environmental groups are demanding that the garbage dumping site be shifted immediately to a scientifically approved location far away from Osman Sagar.
They are calling on civic authorities, pollution control boards, and district officials to stop dumping activity near Osman Sagar immediately and Identify and develop an alternative waste processing site. Citizens warn that if immediate corrective steps are not taken, the long-term consequences could include irreversible damage to Hyderabad’s drinking water sources.
The situation has reignited debate over environmental governance, selective enforcement of regulations, and the urgent need to balance urban waste management with ecological preservation.
