Hyderabad homes skip rainwater pits, groundwater at risk
Authorities blame the dismal implementation on the lack of proper monitoring. RWHS pits are required for all residential buildings above 200 sq.mts under the Water, Land and Trees Act (WALTA), but enforcement remains weak. Officials from the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) say occupancy certificates (OCs) should only be issued after verifying RWHS construction. However, this rule is often ignored as people don't bother applying for OCs.
In 2024–25 alone, GHMC granted 11,509 building permissions, but only 4,578 property owners built soak pits. Of those, just 2,036 secured OCs. Overall, GHMC issued around 10,000 OCs in the last five years.
GHMC says it is urging residents without RWHS to build them immediately, especially with the monsoon approaching. HMWSSB is also offering technical help through trained geologists.
Rapid urbanisation has drastically reduced rainwater seepage, accelerating groundwater depletion. This summer, many borewells ran dry, pushing residents to depend on water tankers — a crisis that could worsen without stricter implementation of rainwater harvesting rules, said officials.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
2 days ago
- Hans India
Residents riled over civic body's nonchalance in tackling flooding
Hyderabad: Residents of areas residing near the Railway under Bridges (RuBs) face immense loss as they are inundated during every heavy downpour. Residents urged the civic body for the permanent fixation of the water inundation issue at RUBs. Each year, monsoon brings immense losses for the residents, especially those residing near the RuBs. The water from the nala is inundating the streets and entering into houses. The residents of Malakpet, Azampura, Yakutpura, and Talab Katta, residing near the RUBs in the GHMC Charminar zone, have been facing innumerable difficulties during rains. A nala situated beside these four RuBs is resulting in overflow and inundation of the surrounding area. Around three to four feet of rainwater inundate these RUBs and were closed to the traffic. Several areas, like Talab Katta RuB and its surroundings, Yakutpura, Ganga Nagar, Azampura, and Malakpet, are in waters up to four feet and above in each heavy rain. Also, the RuBs located in Lingampally, Katedan, Mettuguda, Secunderabad, Alugadda Bavi, Bible Track and other under bridges have been inundated in every monsoon, but no permanent solution has been taken by the civic body. Mohammed Ahmed, a local activist said 'It has been observed that the nalas, which have become narrower owing to haphazard construction activity, now face the real problem even as huge quantities of waste can be seen floating on the surface, causing the inundation of these RuBs and surrounding areas. With no seriousness by the civic body in clearing the debris and desilting nalas, it overflows and inundates at RuB.' Ahmed said that for the last several years, several projects have been taken up, but only temporary solutions were found by the authorities. 'I fear that the condition of these areas will be the same as in previous years. In recent rains, these RuBs have again inundated at least four feet, and traffic was halted for hours. Traffic was cleared after the water was drained,' said Ahmed. According to the residents, these RuBs and surrounding areas have been inundated in each monsoon, but no permanent solution has been taken by the civic body. Even during this monsoon, the situation is the same, and we residents are the ones who suffer,' said Chandrashekar, a resident of Chaderghat. In early monsoon heavy rains, the water enters the house which damages the furniture, electronics and other household items, says Shahid Ali another resident. As a part of the monsoon action plan, the desilting works were completed in these nalas, but the civic body has to desilt the nala in depth so that the water flows freely during heavy downpours. But the GHMC is only doing temporary works by desilting hardly two feet in each nala and keeping the debris aside, which is causing the water to log in RuBs and the localities to be inundated,' emphasised Ahmed. The local authority said that several works were taken up to solve the inundation issue, however, the RuB falls under both the civic body and railways. The works related to the civic body were completed to ensure water inundation.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
PCB steps up action against units found polluting Thevara–Perandoor, Edappally canals
The Kerala State Pollution Control Board (PCB) will issue directions to the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) to disconnect the power supply to over 70 apartment complexes and commercial buildings near the Thevara–Perandoor and Edappally canals that were found violating environmental norms by not setting up adequate wastewater treatment facilities. The PCB had earlier issued closure notices to around 88 such units under Section 33A of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The notice had said that the Board would be constrained to direct the appropriate authority to disconnect the supply of electricity, water, and any other services to the buildings. The Board will issue directions to the concerned Assistant Engineers of the KSEB to disconnect the electricity supply to the erring units, it is learnt. It also had initiated follow-up action after the expiry of the 15-day notice period issued to the violators. Representatives of the units had either failed to submit a reply or refused to accept the notice in violation of the rules. The replies submitted by some other units were found unsatisfactory. It was also found that some of the units that had installed sewage treatment plants had failed to obtain the mandatory consent of the Board, as required under Section 25 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, for the discharge of treated effluent. Action against the erring units was initiated based on directions issued by the National Green Tribunal and the Kerala High Court, both of which had taken serious note of the illegal discharge of untreated wastewater into the canals by the defaulting units.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Indian Express
SMC releases marksheet: Surat city topped among 4,900 cities in Super Swachh League 2025
Surat city topped among 4,900 cities in the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 by securing 12,151 out of 12,500 marks in the Super Swachh League, leaving behind Indore with 12,147 marks and Navi Mumbai with 12,074 marks in the category, according to figures released by the Surat Municipal Corporation on Tuesday. The marks in the Super Swachh League category were given to cities with a population of over 10 lakh. The Swachh Survey Inter-Award Ceremony was held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, on July 17. At the event, Surat city won an award for the best performance in the Super Swachh League from President Droupadi Murmu that was accepted by Surat Mayor Daxesh Mawani and Surat Municipal Commissioner Shalini Agarwal. Sources in Surat Municipal Corporation now revealed that the city has 'achieved a 100 per cent score (1300/1300) with a 7-star rating' in 'Garbage Free City (GFC)' — a comprehensive assessment framework that evaluates a city's solid waste management system across 24 defined indicators, awarding a star rating from 1 to 7. It emphasises 100% source segregation of waste, door-to-door collection from all premises, complete elimination of open dumping and burning, scientific processing of all waste types, remediation of legacy dumpsites, and visible cleanliness across the city. Achieving a 7- star status reflects the city's sustained excellence in decentralised waste systems, zero-waste practices, and active citizen participation. Surat city also scored a 100 per cent (1200/1200) in 'Water + Certification', which recognises cities ensuring 100% treatment, safe reuse and disposal of all wastewater, including faecal sludge. Cities are required to operate functional sewage and faecal sludge treatment facilities, achieve zero untreated discharge into water bodies, and reuse treated water for landscaping, construction, or industrial use. The certification also requires cities to involve bulk water consumers through formal reuse agreements and to promote awareness on water conservation and environmental protection among citizens. The city also scored a 100 per cent in 'Used Water Management' (1000/1000), 'Ecosystem Strengthening and Institutional Parameters' (400/400) and 'Advocacy for Cleanliness' (1500/ 1500). In 'Visible Cleanliness' category Surat scored 1490 out of 1500 marks, while 1489 out of 1500 in 'Solid Waste Management', 989 out of 1000 in 'Sanitation Access', and 493 out of 500 in 'Sanitation Worker Welfare' category. As per sources in the SMC's Health department, last year, more than 100 representatives from the states of Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, New Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, and cities like Mehsana and Vapi had visited Surat city and received mentorship on best sanitation practices.
