The Hindu : NGRI to assess water quality at Mir Alam tank

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 09, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

NGRI to assess water quality at Mir Alam tank

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD Feb. 8. The Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HUDA), which has taken up the Mir Alam Tank Development Project at a cost of Rs. 10 crores is seeking the help of the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) to survey and assess the water quality and level of pollution.

Lakshmi Parthasarathy, vice-chairperson and managing director of HUDA, told The Hindu that the project cost would be met from funds of the Green Hyderabad Environment Programme (GHEP) financed by the Netherlands Government. She said the project's aim was to save 350 acres of water spread of the tank and to prevent pollution of groundwater, which could have an effect on the animals in the nearby Nehru Zoological Park. The park extensively uses this water.

A 10 mgd sewerage treatment plant, scheduled to be completed in a year's time, is to be set up as part of the project as desired by the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu. The firm to set up the treatment plant would be selected by calling for tenders. The plant will intercept the sewerage entering the tank.

Work of the six-km ring road around the tank -- a unique feature of the project -- touching the national highway on one aide and the Rajendranagar road on the other has already been started.

The HUDA, she said, planned to prevent further encroachment of the tank-bed area and to rehabilitate the existing residents. In this connection discussions were already held with elected representatives like the MIM Floor Leader, Asaduddin Owaisi. It is proposed to shift about half of the 238 families living in the area.

The project also envisages development of a five-acre park in one of the three islands located amidst the tank. As this island is above the water level, boats are to be pressed into service for the benefit of people going to the park. The island will be provided with all recreation facilities like eatery, area for partying and play equipment for children etc. The boating activity will be privatised on an annual rental basis.

Ms. Parthasarathy said HUDA had submitted to the State and the Netherlands Government the Rs. 48-crore GHEP action plan for the coming year. The plan envisages development of urban greenery in 4,000 hectares at a cost of Rs. 25 crores and restoration of 15 lakes.

HUDA was going in for tertiary sewerage treatment plants in the heavily polluted lakes with the aim of achieving potable water standards. "If in the next four to five years we can achieve the objective of the treatment it will be possible to create potentiality of generating clean water of 20 litres per capita per day which could meet the needs of about 20-lakh people," she said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Afro-Asian Games in city, reiterates Naidu

MIM bid may hit pact with Cong.

Three held for PF fraud

Israeli Film Festival from today

Police vow to implement citizens's charter

Governor's plea to engineers on water crisis

NGRI to assess water quality at Mir Alam tank