Himayat Sagar, Osman Sagar pollution: Telangana HC seeks detailed report from govt

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Monday issued notices to the State government and key civic and regulatory authorities over the alarming pollution levels in the twin reservoirs of Himayat Sagar and Osman Sagar, which serve as major sources of drinking water for Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice Ghouse Meera Mohiuddin directed senior officials to file comprehensive replies within four weeks detailing the measures taken to prevent the inflow of sewage and industrial effluents into the reservoirs.

The matter has been posted for further hearing on March 26, 2026.

The notices were issued to the Chief Secretary and Principal Secretaries of the Municipal Administration and Irrigation Departments, the Member Secretary of the Telangana State Pollution Control Board, and Commissioners of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority and Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board.

The Bench made it clear that failure to submit responses within the stipulated time would attract costs.

The proceedings stem from a Public Interest Litigation that the Court initiated suo motu after converting a newspaper report into a taken-up PIL.

During the hearing, the Bench referred to findings reported in the media and corroborated by a study conducted by Maulana Azad National Urdu University, which indicated that the water quality in both reservoirs has significantly deteriorated due to continuous discharge of sewage and industrial pollutants.

The report highlighted the presence of toxic substances and heavy metals in the water.

Observing that contaminated water poses grave risks to public health and the environment, the Bench noted that the water in the reservoirs no longer meets standards prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh directed standing counsel for the Pollution Control Board, GHMC, HMDA and HMWSSB to place on record the specific actions taken so far to curb pollution and prevent further inflow of untreated sewage from surrounding colonies, villages and industrial units.

The Court emphasized the need for concrete remedial steps to safeguard these vital water bodies from further degradation.

The Bench adjourned the matter to March 26, 2026, and directed all respondents to file detailed status reports before the next date of hearing.