FFCG members say that in spite of the huge amount spent, little progress has been achieved, resulting in a far cry from the plan envisaged.

The riverfront of the Musi in the Old City stinks. Passing by the High Court road, one is always subjected to the stench raised due to the sewage water flowing into the river from sewer networks spread across the city. But, had things gone as planned by the water board and the sewerage treatment plants installed been functioning properly, then the riverfront today would have, perhaps, been a pleasant sight for all.

What’s more, a Right to Information (RTI) query filed by the Forum for Good Governance (FFCG) here, has revealed that a whopping Rs.405.30 crore was squandered on various works since 2001 to send treated water into the Musi.

FFCG members say that in spite of the huge amount spent, little progress has been achieved, resulting in a far cry from the plan envisaged.

“The government can develop the riverfront here such as it was done in Ahmedabad for the Sabarmati river, where a separate corporation was set up to avoid delays in raising resources,” pointed out M. Padmanabha Reddy, secretary, FFCG, on Tuesday.

The RTI query filed by Mr. Reddy at the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) showed that five sewerage treatment plants (STP) have been installed at Amberpet, Nagole, Nallacheruvu, Attapur and Ziaguda, with a capacity to treat sewage water up to 592 million litres per day (MLD).

“The reply said that Rs.405.30 crore was spent as against a sanction of Rs.344 crore,” he stated at a press conference.

Both Rao Chelikani, another FFCG member, and Mr. Reddy, pointed out that two rubber dams were set up by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) at a total cost of Rs.50 crore in the river in front of the High Court premises some time ago. “The dams did not yield any positive result; in fact, they have become a ground for breeding of mosquitoes,” claimed Mr. Reddy.

The FFCG members said that the STPs were set up under phase-1 of the National River Conservation Directorate (NCRD), a Govt. of India project, which envisaged interception and diversion of the storm water drains (‘nalas’) flowing into the Musi to the nearest STPs.

According to the RTI reply, apart from the treatment plants, 16 Interception and Diversion (I&D) structures and conveying mains up to 30.92 km, were also constructed.

“The response from the water board also mentioned that there is a second project proposal, but the Centre informed them that there was paucity of funds. What is the point of spending so much money when the STPs set up are not working to their full capacity?” questioned Mr. Reddy.