Secunderabad Cantonment residents had filth in their homes for days

SECUNDERABAD: For three-four days in October, those living around the Ramannakunta Lake in Secunderabad Cantonment, had to put up with sewerage water flowing through their homes. Not only did they suffer severe damage to their property, they had to put up with a nauseating stench too. Residents say, the thought of the recent floods – result of a rapidly shrinking water body – still gives them the chills.
“Nearly Rs 1 lakh worth of household goods and essential commodities were damaged due to the inundation.My family had to spend three days in the sewer water, which entered our colony,” said P Sridevi a resident of Lakshmi Nagar Colony. She added: “I have been living here for the past 20 years but have never experienced something like this.”

Others agree that the lake, which has now become a cesspool, was once a pride of the area when it was a clean and irrigation tank providing water to nearly 100 acres of agricultural land. The lake, today, is completely covered in hyacinth.
“People have built high-rises by encroaching the bund portion of the lake and deviating from the original layout plans that were approved by the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB),” an SCB engineering official told TOI. And the proof lies in SCB records, which show that the lake originally spread over an area of 7.2-acres is now only 6-acres big.
Worse, the sewer outlet lines connected to the lake have completely vanished and officials have no idea about the lake’s full tank level.
M Devender, senior superintendent (SWM), SCB said, “The state government has already sanctioned Rs 2.95 crore to lay underground sewer pipeline parallel to the lake and, thereby, prevent sewage water from entering the lake. However, the work was halted due to the rainy season. It will commence in a week.”