Only 33 % of funds spent on Hussain Sagar maintenance in four years: RTI reply
HDMA said they have spent around Rs 14.79 crore for maintenance of Hussain Sagar Lake between 2014 and 2018. The government had sanctioned Rs 46 crore budget for the maintenance of the Hussain Sagar.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 24 Nov 2020 12:47 PM GMT
Hyderabad: Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) has spent only 33 percent of the funds allocated for maintenance of Hussain Sagar Lake in four years. It is to note, that cleaning and maintenance of the lake are two different tasks allocated to agencies.
In an RTI reply to Society for Safety of Public and Good Governance, HDMA said they have spent around Rs 14.79 crore for maintenance of Hussain Sagar Lake between 2014 and 2018. While the government had sanctioned Rs 46 crore budget.
The maintenance of Hussain Sagar includes collecting of floating pollutants, garbage, plastic waste from the lake, greenery and repairs & functioning of the trash collecting machines.
The major pollutant of Hussain Sagar is domestic sewage entering the lake that boosts the growth of algae. The damage happens when the algae during decomposition use a lot of available oxygen in the water thus making it deficient for other aquatic fauna and kills the life inside the lake. This lake cleaning part was taken care by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under lake improvement project which ended in 2016.
But, direct dumping of litter, garbage, plastic waste, and other debris continues. In July 2018, the state government entrusted the entire area to Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) to ensure comprehensive development and effective maintenance of Hussain Sagar and its surroundings.
An officer associated with the projects, on condition of anonymity, told NewsMeter, " As part of the JICA project. Two Sewerage treatments of capacity 30 MLD and 20 MLD were constructed. A ring sewer has also been set up around the lake. The Balkapur, Banjara, Kukatpally and Picket have been diverted. In addition, we have installed aeration equipment to boost the oxygen levels of the lake. Seven jet fountains were installed to improve the dissolved oxygen content. So far 6.4 lakh cubic meters of sediment has been removed from the three mouths of the Nalas".
While there was no answer to why was the rest of the funds not used. "Cleaning of the lake and maintenance are two different projects. The HMDA oversees the maintenance which includes labour, service and repair of trash collecting machines, greenery and more."
Meanwhile, the Hyderabad based Independent body Society of Public and Good Governance said, "There are a lot many things which are not moving because of budget but having budget allocated to certain things. Why has the department not spent? That is the biggest question".
Hussain Sagar Lake, including NTR Marg, Tank Bund Road, Necklace Road, surrounding parks, and landscapes are now under HMDA control.
The flood control and discharge of water from the lake during the monsoon and the weirs control are under the control of GHMC's irrigation wing.
During the recent flood, citizen groups flagged the issue of encroachment at Hussain Sagar. In January this year, Save Our Urban Lake activist and the Socialist Party of India leader Lubna Sarwath wrote to the Chief Justice of Telangana High Court urging him to take action against illegal construction being taken up inside the Full Tank Level (FTL) of Hussain Sagar. The 'encroached' land is located close to Sanjeevaiah Park.
The encroachment has also become an election issue this time around. BJP and Congress are raising the issue of encroachment at Hussain Sagar during canvassing in GHMC polls
