Hyderabad 6th most polluted city in India: Krishna and Godavari water unfit for drinking

U. SUDHAKAR REDDY
NONE OF THE WATER SOURCES IN THE STATE ARE SAFE FOR DRINKING OR BATHING
Climatic conditions in the state are clearly worsening.
In fact, environmentalists say that the state capital is the sixth worst polluted city in the country.
Alarmingly, the Krishna and Godavari rivers, that contribute around 90 per cent of the state’s surface water resources, are polluted with sewage, discharge of untreated effluents from industries and agriculture run offs.
The rapidly increasing air pollution and water contamination levels in Hyderabad and other cities, pose a grave risk. In it’s report, State of Environment in AP, the Environmental Protection Training and Research Institute (Eptri), says that none of the water sources in the state are safe for drinking or bathing without treatment.
The EPTRI clarifies that Godavari river water is within safe limits till Manchiryal, but further downstream, the water is very polluted. Kolleru and Pulicat lakes are in a worse condition. According to the Water Conservation Mission, the state will move from a “scarcity of water” situation to a “severe scarcity of water” situation by 2020. This will be the result of over exploitation of surface water resources and indiscriminate tapping of ground water.
In 36 mandals of East Godavari, West Godavari and Krishna, ground water is unsuitable even for irrigation.
Studies reveal that bulk drug industries in LB Nagar.
Uppal, Bollarum, Jeedimetla, Sanatnagar and Balangar, are polluting the ground water.
Eptri experts point out that even a major city like Hyderabad does not have total sewer system coverage, and barely one-third of sewage is treated. The rest flows into the Musi river.
The present sewage system covers about 70 per cent of the GHMC jurisdiction, excluding former municipalities and a small portion of the LB Nagar sub-circle.
The remaining eight former municipalities do not have a sewage system in place.
This situation results in the spread of diseases like cholera.
Mr. T. Sagar Reddy, an environment activist says, “The AP Water Land and Trees Act, 2002, enacted for water conservation and tree cover, and to regulate the use of ground water, is not implemented properly.” Hyderabad is struggling to deal with severe air pollution as well. According to the APPCB, Panjagutta, Abids, Charminar and Paradise, are the worst traffic junctions where carbon monoxide levels reach 4-5 mg per metric cube during peak hours, as against a “below 2mg per metric cube” tolerable mark.
APPCB senior environmental engineer, Mr T.Rajendra Reddy said, “Air pollution is touching the highest levels during peak hours at traffic junctions.
Vehicular pollution and traffic jams are the major factors for increased air pollution.
Idling engines, and very low average speeds result in vehicles emitting more unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide.
9.30 am to 11 am, and 6 pm to 7.\30 pm, are the worst hours.” Suspended particulate matter is already at 300 micro grams per cubic metre, way over “must not exceed 200” norms. Places like Uppal, Jeedimetla, Shameerpet and Kukatpally have high levels of suspended particulate matter due to industrial activity and heavy vehicular traffic.
It’s a similar grim scenario in cities like Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada.
Over the past 10 years, temperature in the city increased by 4ºCelsius. The Industries Department has been resolutely uninterested in environmental issues.
Eptri recommendations to the state government, have been ignored.