The Hindu : Efforts to rejuvenate `dead' tank

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 03, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Efforts to rejuvenate `dead' tank

By K. Venkateshwarlu

BOLLARAM April 2 . From a fresh water tank serving an ayacut of 100 acres to a cesspool, a convenient dumping ground for obnoxious effluents from the chemical and bulk drug industries of the Industrial Development Area, Bollaram in Medak district. The story of Asanikunta abutting the industrial area near the city looks strikingly similar to the pathetic state of other such "cheruvus'' and "kuntas'', beseeched by industrial estates.

But unlike other lakes and tanks in the vicinity, which continue to remain clinically dead cesspools, notwithstanding a Supreme Court order, an attempt is now being made to bring Asanikunta back to life. In a unique joint effort, the Progressive Industrial Association representing the industries in IDA, Bollarum, and the local community have come forward to take up the "remediation'' works, holding promise for rejuvenation of other tanks.

The "remediation'' works were formally launched by the Bollarum village sarpanch, V. Chandra Reddy, in the presence of the Medak District Collector, L. Premchandra Reddy, V. Ramakrishna Rao, president of the PIA, B. V. Subba Rao, president of the Centre for Resource Education, A. Kishan Rao, president of the Patancheru Anti- Pollution Committee and local villagers.

Mr. Premchandra Reddy wanted the "remediation'' works completed before the onset of the monsoon. He would monitor the works closely. He said a similar arrangement would be worked out for reviving other lakes and tanks affected by industrial pollution in the district, beginning with those covered by the Supreme Court judgement.

On a suggestion from Dr. Kishan Rao, he said the Panchayat Raj department would be asked to study the feasibility of laying separate pipelines for sewage and storm water drains.

Mr. Subba Rao who has motivated the industries and the local community to take up the project, said under the first phase, the thick layer of sludge formed over the years by dumping of effluents would be removed, using two poclains.

The scrapped layer would either be transported to the Treatment Storage and Disposal Facility at Dundigal or dumped in nearby effluent-filled lagoons after cleaning and lining them. Simultaneously, breaches in two waterbodies upstream, Varadakunta and Mannekunta, would be repaired.

Mr. Ramakrishna Rao said the industry, mainly the 30 polluting ones, would contribute upto Rs. 30 lakhs for the remediation works. He conceded that if some of the industries had not let out the effluents into Asanikunta over the years, the tank would not have been polluted.

Of the 150 industries in the Bollarum IDA, 50 have turned sick. Thirty of the remaining 100 are highly polluting chemical and bulk drug factories. Over ten of these 30 polluting industries have either turned sick or have been closed by the AP Pollution Control Board (APPCB).

These 30 industries had come together to set up a Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) in 1993 investing Rs. 2 crores. But it has not been functioning effectively. The CETP has now been closed on the orders of the APPCB. As an alternative, the polluting industries have become members of the Patancheru Effluent Treatment Limited and transporting 15 tankers there every day.

In accordance with the Supreme Court judgement in the famous Patancheru industrial pollution case, remediation of a chain of "cheruvus'' and "kuntas'' leading to Nakkavagu stream, was to be completed by January 2000. But neither the industry nor the regulatory authorities showed interest. Thanks to the initiative of the CRE, a beginning has been made with Asanikunta.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

A.P. Congress agitators lathicharged

President's consent sought for ordinance on panel for SCs, STs

VUDA to allow third-party registration of houses, plots

Child rights forum unveils mystery over child labourer's death

Efforts to rejuvenate `dead' tank

Govt. to give back fines from traffic rule violators to Police dept.

Ceasefire should precede talks, says PWG