Babus make a killing out of Hussainsagar
Float new projects, ask Centre to arrange for funds
The government is now looking for another way to seek funds from the Centre. This time, it is citing “rehabilitation of trunk main sewerage pipelines”, specifically the one passing adjacent to Hussainsagar.
The Metro Water Board has sent a proposal for `376 crore to the Centre, seeking funds.
Since 2006, HMDA, with aid from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, has spent crores on cleaning the Hussainsagar, but does not have much to show for it. It has to repay JICA using Central government funds.
In June this year, the `370-crore project of JICA, wherein a certain amount was spent on foreign trips for officials, ended and another `50crore project of HMWS&SB, to divert the Kukatpally Nala was completed.
In a letter to DC, general secretary of the Forum for Good Governance M. Padmanabha Reddy said, “To pay back JICA, the state government has sought Central government funds. Over `310 crore was spent on the Hussainsagar cleaning project.”
He said many government officers had gone on foreign tours with the project money and socalled experts from foreign countries visited Hyderabad to advise engineers regarding the cleaning of Hussainsagar.
“In the bargain crores of rupees were spent for consultancy and travel expenses. In 2015, the state government diverted the Kukatpally nala at a cost of about `50 crore.
Accordingly, pipelines were laid and the chemical water of Kukatpally nala was diverted to Musi River, further aggravating the river’s problems,” Mr Padmanabha Rao said.
He said sewerage was still entering the lake.
“A state agency has once again sought funds for pipeline works,” he said.
An official from the Water Supply and Sewerage Board said, “Funds have been sought for rehabilitation of trunk main sewer pipelines at two locations. One is a 5.5-km sewer line that runs from Vidya Shanthi to Tank Bund (near the GHMC head office) and the other is an 18-km line from IDPL to the Amberpet sewerage treatment plant.”
He said these lines were planned after the large crater was formed on NTR Marg on September 21, following heavy rain. “These are old pipelines that cannot withstand the excess sewer load.
He said “trenchless” technology would be used to lay these pipelines, which would not involve digging of roads. “A proposal has been sent to the Central government, funds are awaited,” he said.