Hyderabad residents raise concerns over sewage discharge into Mushki Lake
Hyderabad: Residents of My Home Avatar and Hallmark Vicinia in Hyderabad have expressed growing concern over the ongoing discharge of sewage water into Mushki Lake. They claim that the situation has led to severe environmental and health issues, including foul odors and an increase in mosquito infestations. Despite reporting these issues for over a year, residents say no significant action has been taken by the concerned authorities, including municipal and HMDA (Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority) officials.
In a letter addressed to Prakash Goud, the MLA of Rajendranagar Constituency, the residents explained the extent of the problems. "For over a year now, our communities have been suffering from unbearable foul smells and increased mosquito infestations, severely affecting our health and hygiene. Despite raising these concerns earlier, no action has been taken," the letter stated. The residents also warned that the lake itself was facing serious ecological damage, with the activities of Dhruvansh NGO, led by Madhulika, worsening the situation.
The residents outlined several specific issues that have emerged due to the ongoing activities around the lake. They mentioned that sewage water continues to flow into the rainwater canal, leading to the contamination of both the lake and nearby community drains. The diversion of sewage into the community’s CC (cement concrete) drains has caused frequent blockages and mud accumulation.
Furthermore, residents expressed concerns about the felling of trees around the lake without proper transparency, and the raising of road levels near the lake entrance, which they say blocks the natural flow of rainwater into the lake. Instead, the diverted water is flowing into internal roads, causing stagnation, dust accumulation, and difficulties in cleaning.
Residents also cited reports of plans to fill the lake with untreated sewage water, which would exacerbate the already unbearable odor and increase the mosquito problem. Moreover, they alleged that boundaries were being constructed along the Full Tank Level (FTL) line, obstructing the natural flow of water into the lake.
The residents concluded their letter by calling for immediate intervention to stop the unscientific activities around the lake. "We request your urgent intervention to halt these harmful activities and ensure that no further work is carried out until proper assessments and consultations are conducted," they urged.
MLA’s Response
On June 30, a delegation from My Home Avatar and Hallmark Vicinia, led by Ramakrishna Reddy and Shravan, met with MLA Prakash Goud. Speaking with Hyderabad Mail, Gowtham, one of the concerned residents, said, "For nearly two years, sewage has been flowing into the lake from unknown sources. Despite several complaints to municipal and HMDA officials, the issue remains unresolved."
He further explained the severity of the problem, "This contamination is killing aquatic life in the lake, and residents, as well as devotees at the nearby Hanuman Temple, are suffering due to the foul smell and the increase in mosquitoes." He added that the livelihood of the local Gangaputra community, which relies on fish farming, was also under threat due to the deteriorating health of the lake.
Gowtham highlighted the need for immediate action to address the sewage issue, protect public health. "We earnestly requested that steps be taken on a war footing to stop the sewage inflow and safeguard the local community's livelihood," he said.
In response to these concerns, MLA Prakash Goud contacted the Manikonda Municipal Commissioner, who assured the residents that a joint meeting would be held within the next couple of days. This meeting will involve officials from the Narsingi Municipal Commissioner’s office, the Irrigation Department, Water Works authorities, and HMDA. The meeting will include a site visit where officials will interact with residents and take swift action to resolve the issues.
Dhruvansh NGO’s Explanation
Madhulika S. Chowdary, the environmental activist and founder of Dhruvansh NGO, responded to the concerns raised by the local residents. Speaking to Hyderabad Mail, she explained that her organization has been working on the restoration of Mushki Lake since 2019, bringing fresh water to the lake in 2020 to improve its catchment area. From 2021 onwards, she noted, the local community began regularly volunteering in her programs. However, the sewage problem started in 2022 when nearby apartments began discharging wastewater into the lake.
Madhulika clarified that the sewage was being diverted by local fishermen to an existing sewage pipeline that runs through government land. "Mushki Lake is 52 acres in total, with 17 acres being government land and the rest being patta land. We’ve faced significant challenges in securing funding for the lake's restoration," she said. She added that after persistent efforts, her NGO convinced a sponsor to fund the project.
In April 2023, Dhruvansh NGO signed an MOU with HMDA to initiate the restoration work. Madhulika highlighted that the work was carried out only on government land as per the instructions from HMDA, and for issues related to sewage, letters had been sent to HMDA to request action from other departments.
Addressing allegations about soil dumping, tree cutting, and drainage changes, Madhulika denied that soil was being dumped from outside the project area. She explained, "No soil has been dumped from outside. The soil used for boundary work comes from government land. As for the trees, we’ve removed only those that were damaged by human activity, such as being burned by drinking. We also planted 5,000 native trees at Mushki Lake as part of our restoration efforts."
Regarding the concerns over sewage inflow, Madhulika reiterated that her organization had already sent requests to HMDA to ensure that the lake remains free from sewage contamination. She noted, "I’ve told the community to submit their concerns in writing, which I will get approved by HMDA. However, they prefer to make accusations rather than follow the proper process."