Hyderabad's overflowing manholes: HMWSSB asks property owners to install silt chambers

Hyderabad: Overflowing manholes continue to pose a major civic issue in Hyderabad. Water Board has blamed public negligence and lack of awareness for the recurring problem. Despite repeated special drives, officials say the situation will not improve unless citizens actively cooperate.

HMWSSB special drive

In its latest special drive, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) undertook extensive desilting of sewer pipelines and manholes. Large volumes of silt and waste materials accumulated over time and were removed. These obstructions had been disrupting the normal flow of sewage, resulting in frequent manhole overflows.

Authorities reported disturbing instances of residents dumping inappropriate waste such as blankets, bedsheets, plastic items, water bottles, and even pillows and mattresses into manholes. These actions cause severe blockages, preventing smooth sewage flow and ultimately leading to overflow into the streets.

Stern action on those found dumping waste into sewer system

“Without proper public awareness and cooperation, such problems will continue to arise regardless of how many special drives we conduct,” warned HMWSSB managing director Ashok Reddy, who has now announced strict action against anyone found dumping waste into the sewer system.

The Water Board also highlighted that several hotels, commercial establishments, bakeries, food courts, and multi-storey building complexes are contributing to the problem by connecting their sewage lines directly to the city’s main sewer network without installing silt chambers. The absence of these chambers allows solid and food waste to enter the system, putting pressure on pipelines and causing them to overflow.

HMWSSB urges property owners to install silt chambers

To address the issue, the HMWSSB has urged all property owners, particularly commercial and multi-unit residential facilities, to install silt chambers on their premises. These chambers help filter out solid waste before it enters the sewer system, ensuring only wastewater flows into manholes, Ashok Reddy said.

Officials emphasized that with proper infrastructure and responsible citizen participation, sewer overflows can be significantly minimized, improving sanitation and public health across the city.