Polluted Water Supply In Owaisi Hills

Even as the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply And Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) maintains that the water supplied from the Mir Alam filter beds is clean, residents of Shastripuram of the Owaisi Hills insist that these claims are hollow.

In addition to the contamination, the water is being supplied at a very low pressure, the residents insist.

"The water is not only visibly coloured, but a distinct stench also emanates from it. Apart from this, the water is supplied at a very low pressure, and is grossly inadequate for our needs. We are forced to trudge long distances to get water for our daily needs," said Abdul Khadeer, a resident.

Khadeer further said that the cited problems are a recurring phenomena, and are witnessed every summer. "This time around, the stench has compounded our problems," he says.

"Though we make frequent trips to the HMWSSB office, we have lost hope that something will be done," he adds. Apart from the irregular supply, the timings are erratic, Khadeer bemoans.

Meanwhile, many localities under the under jurisdiction of the Himayat Sagar reservoir, from which the water is supplied to the Mir Alam filters for treatment, continue to receive supply of coloured water.

"The HMWSSB officials say that the filtration process is adequate, and that the is water safe to drink at the time of its release," Khadeer said.

The Board claims that its Managing Director M Jagadeeshwar has been frequently making trips to the Mir Alam filters to monitor the filtration process, and that the officials are satisfied with the measures being taken to treat the water.

It also revealed that the board had inaugurated new filter media, purchased at a cost of Rs. 1 crore, on Saturday to ensure better filtration of the water. (INN)