Hyderabad, July 8: It seems that the interception and diversion (I&D) plant for sewerage flowing into the Hussain Sagar at Kukatpally is gathering dust for the last six months.
The reason: Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority officials have been postponing the dates for inauguration as the chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy has not had time to attend the programme.
The interesting thing is the venue is located just a few metres away from the Secretariat and the chief minister passes this route daily to attend office.
HMDA officials said the 100 MLD I&D structure for diverting pollutants flowing into the lake was completed around six months back. They added that the HMDA had even finalised dates for inauguration four times but all were postponed at the last minute.
“We are doubtful whether the chief minister is interested to inaugurate the project or not. Till then people will be robbed of the main attraction of jet fountains at the Hussain Sagar,” an official said. Seven jet fountains imported from the US and installed at Tank Bund, NTR Marg and Necklace road at a cost of `10 crore are not being put into use.
HMDA had undertaken the I&D plant as part of the Hussainsagar Lake and Catchment Area Improvement Project (HCIP). The HCIP was taken up at a cost of `370 crore, with funding from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), to maintain water balance, improve water quality by preventing pollutants entering the lake, renovation of nalas and improve the lake surroundings for developing bio-diversity and eco-tourism.
–Agencies