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Developing tools for urban planning and environment management: A unique effort of an environmental NGO in Hyderabad
Resource Degradation
Haphazard growth of Hyderabad has degraded natural resources like water, air, and soil. Environmental pollution has reached alarming levels in the last 5-6 years. This has been chiefly due to industries and automobiles. Effluents of several bulk drug industries are stored in open pits. This led to extensive ground water pollution affecting the sources of agricultural and drinking water needs of the surrounding colonies. Several lakes have been inundated with effluents from industries, including Hussainsagar. Environmental conditions in Ramanthapur and Uppal areas continue to be the cause of concern. Most of the industries are in the midst of residential areas, with no proper drainage system and without any effective monitoring of the industrial discharges. 
Nacharam is another typical example where an industry
coexists with human habitat. A bone-meal factory, which was a continuous source
of obnoxious smell and foul air, was shifted out owing to public pressure. There
was a proposal to lay a pipeline to carry effluents of all the industries in
Nacharam to Amberpet to be let out into River Musi. Presently, the ground water
in an area of 100 sq.km. is polluted by nitric acid. Usage of hazardous
chemicals on a large scale both in transport, storage and manufacturing
processes in the midst of residential areas has potential ramifications, which
have been generally ignored by everybody. Modern industrial development, particularly of the chemical industries in Hyderabad started with the location of Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals at Balanagar. Though not recognized then, its location has been the source of all problems of pollution in Hyderabad - it is located in the catchment area of Hussainsagar and in the windward direction of Hyderabad. A host of industries developed on the upstream of all water channels of Hyderabad, thus, subjecting the residents to numerous problems. Establishment of IDPL resulted in the proliferation of chemical and pharmaceutical industries in Jeedimetla, Kukatpally and surrounding areas. Due to a vacuum in the Town planning policy, industries and residential areas developed alongside each other. In the process, prime agricultural land and a series of percolation tanks upstream of Hussainsagar were obliterated. 
Jeedimetla, supposed to be India's biggest small-scale industrial area,
is virtually a gas chamber. Solid wastes can be seen dumped everywhere,
industrial effluents take gravitational course and end up in roadside pits and
the ambient air is befouled by a variety of pollutants. Air pollution is rampant
in the industrial zones caused by boilers, process fumes and automobiles. Ground
water pollution is extensive; accidents are frequent while the effect on human
health is continuous and maximum. After considerable public pressure, a common
effluent treatment plant was established. But this might not be the complete
answer to the pollution problems in this area. Azamabad industrial area finds itself among the residential areas of Ramnagar, Vidyanagar, Musheerabad and Baghlingampally, despite being on the outskirts of Hyderabad 40 years back. At present, the only option is shift out the industries in this area. Presence of these industries is a continuous health hazard to the surrounding residents. Katedan industrial area poses the same problem as Jeedimetla and Azamabad, and more. It lacks many infrastructural facilities with most of the industries belonging to small-scale sector. Though situated in Medak and Ranga Reddy districts, industrial area of Patancheru, Bollarum and Cherlapally are nearer to Hyderabad due to territorial proximity. There are many highly polluting industries in Patancheru and Bollarum, which lack even minimum pollution treatment facilities. Almost 25 villages are affected by the industrial pollution. Crops are damaged, land is degraded, general health of population has declined sharply and cattle are dying in numbers. Cherlapalli is another of concern for environmentalists. 
Garbage ManagementEveryday, tons of garbage is produced in the twin cities. However, the whole process, of garbage disposal, is governed by apathy, irresponsibility, unaccountability and non-chalance. Owing to not-in-my-backyard approach, there has been frequent shifting of garbage dumping sites, or centralizing the collection, which does not solve the growing garbage crises. With the spurt in urbanization and change in life styles, composition of garbage has also changed. As the density of population has increased, which brought in its wake a rise in garbage quantity. Increasingly, the municipal authorities are unable to perform their old job of collecting the garbage and disposing it by burning at a central place. Modern day consumerism has also changed the composition of the garbage. |