Hyderabad: Slow Progress in Sewer Line Cleaning Drive
The Hyderabad Water Board’s 90-day special drive to desilt manholes and clean sewer lines is moving slowly in several parts of the city, particularly in central areas. Residents in some localities have also reported that no inspections have been carried out to address their sewage problems.
In areas like Aghapura, Tolichowki, Asifnagar, and Jamali Kunta, the desilting process is progressing at a sluggish pace. Even after manholes are desilted, the silt is often left on the streets, causing additional inconvenience. In many places, manhole lids remain open, posing safety risks. Localities such as Nizampet, Neredmet, RK Puram, Tarnaka, and Malkajgiri, which lack an integrated drainage system, have not been inspected at all. This has led to persistent problems of sewage overflow, residents say.
“In our locality, the desilting work is happening very slowly. To make matters worse, they have left the silt on the corners of our streets. We have informed the officials, but no permanent solution has been provided,” said Mohammed Abid Ali, a resident.
In areas like Neredmet, RK Puram, and Malkajgiri, the lack of a proper drainage network has caused frequent sewage overflows. “Our lanes often turn into pools of sewage, making life unbearable. Despite numerous complaints, no official has come to inspect the situation,” said Robin, a resident of Neredmet.
Sai Teja, a resident of Nizampet, echoed similar concerns. “There is no proper sewerage system in our area. Even though we have repeatedly requested authorities to address the issue, no action has been taken. During this ongoing drive, no one has visited our locality to resolve the problem,” he said.
Meanwhile, according to the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB), significant progress has been made in the drive. Officials report that 1,842.91 kilometers of sewer pipelines and 146.6 lakh manholes have been desilted so far, completing 60 percent of the targeted work.
