Secunderabad: Sewage spill plugged after resident complains on TOI app

SECUNDERABAD: After residents of Aswini Colony, West Marredpally, reported about overflowing sewage in their locality using TOI’s Citizen Reporter app, officials of Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) swung into action and plugged the leakage. Residents said that the overflowing sewage had become a source of agony for them and they feared the spread of vector-borne diseases.
“Finally, our woes have come to end.The issue was fixed after we aired our grievances on the TOI app. I thank TOI and the authorities for fixing the issue,” said Janaki Lakshmi, the citizen reporter.
Savio M, a resident of West Marredpally, said the sewage spill had added to their commuting woes. “The road in Aswini Colony is filled with potholes. With sewage water overflowing, our commuting woes multiplied and further damaged the road too,” he said.
Another resident from East Marredpally said that additional measures should be taken even after the issue has been resolved. “Once the issues related to sanitation are solved, officials should take up fogging in the locality,” said Vikrantt Mohan, a resident of East Marredpally, while appreciating the Citizen Reporter app.
Officials of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) said that they have forwarded the complaint to SCB. “Though GHMC officials inspected West Marredpally, they forwarded the complaint to SCB, as the locality falls under then,” read a statement issued by GHMC.
Officials of SCB said that the sewer lines were choked and so they overflowed. “We resolved the issue the day the grievance was published. However, the onus of keeping the city clean also lies on the residents. Many people throw garbage irresponsibly in nalas, blocking them,” said a SCB official.
Rama Krishna, vice-president of SCB, said that cleaning choked maholes was only a temporary solution. “The drainage lines are unable to bear the load. I am sure the manholes in West Marredpally will overflow again, even if there is a short spell of rain. Replacing the old lines with new and bigger ones is the only solution,” said Rama Krishna.