Gandhi bio-waste choking sewers

Neighbourhoods around Musheerabad are full of constantly-choked sewer lines and Gandhi Hospital — responsible for dumping a massive amount of biowaste — has been slapped with a fine notice by the metro sewer board for causing pollution, health hazards and public nuisance through the unlawful discharge.

During a recent inspection, it was found that the management of the hospital was releasing biological water into the city’s sewerage lines, leading to regular choking of the pipeline. The release also caused manholes to overflow and left pipes broken. The sewerage network in the sector is quite old.

This is a punishable act, under provision section 54 of HMWSSB, act 1989 and is punishable also under IPC section 133 Cr. P.C. Not just Gandhi Hospital, but many big hotels, dairy farms in Bowenpally and even event halls have been issued fine notices. The amount will be added to the monthly water bill.

Operations and maintenance director G. Rameshwar Rao, explained, “In the surprise check conducted on February 9 this year, it was found that the hospital was discharging edible and biological waste which contains solid matter, into the board’s sewer line. As a result, the lines were getting choked and overflowing very frequently onto the lanes and roads, causing public inconvenience and health hazards. This solid matter gets stuck and the free flow of water is blocked.”

Several other establishments such as hostels and function halls have also been fined for disposing solid waste into drains and they have now been asked to prevent flow of material by constructing silt chambers within 15 days from the date of the fine notice.

Failing which, silt chambers will be built by the board and expenditure incurred will be recovered as arrears of revenue as required by the HMWSSB act, 1989,” he said.