Two years after the Telangana High Court intervened to save it, Hyderabad's Durgam Cheruvu lake remains in a critical state, suffocating under a relentless flow of untreated sewage. Despite the formation of an expert committee and a direct court mandate to civic bodies, the picturesque lake, a hub for morning walkers, continues to emit a foul stench and shows alarming signs of ecological decay, leaving residents and environmentalists frustrated.
Court Order Ignored, Ground Reality Unchanged
In a suo motu move two years ago, the Telangana High Court had directed the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) to tackle the root cause of the pollution: the unchecked inflow of sewage into the lake. However, on-the-ground assessments by locals and activists reveal a stark gap between judicial directives and tangible action. The untreated sewage continues to stream in, and earlier promises by authorities have yielded minimal results.
Rachana Gupta, a resident living close to the lake, highlights the persistent neglect. "As much as one-third of the lake is covered in hyacinth," she said. Gupta has submitted repeated complaints to the irrigation department and the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB), but the response has been inadequate. "Apart from deploying a machine to clear the hyacinth, which doesn't seem to be helping, there has been no effective response. The root cause remains unaddressed."
Alarming Studies Confirm Toxic Pollution
The severity of the crisis is backed by scientific studies. A report by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) in 2023, which examined 12 locations around the lake, flagged dangerously high levels of pollutants. These include heavy metals, industrial waste, and untreated sewage. The consequences are visible: fish deaths, rampant mosquito breeding, and an unbearable stench that has driven away regular visitors.
"Even with our windows closed, the stench seeps in. I have stopped going on morning walks around the lake. It feels like no one has followed up on the high court order," shared Pooja V, a homemaker and former regular at the park.
Further corroborating the findings, a 2024 study by The Times of India in collaboration with BITS Pilani, Hyderabad, reaffirmed the deteriorating water quality. It found dissolved oxygen levels at about 3.3 mg/l on both sides of the lake, far below the United Nations Environment Programme's recommended 10 mg/l for healthy water bodies. The study emphasized the urgent need for a detailed, ongoing water monitoring program.
In a more disturbing revelation, an independent study titled 'Organic Micropollutants in Durgam Cheruvu Lake' detected the presence of 183 different chemical compounds in the water. These included pharmaceuticals, herbicides, hormones, steroids, UV filters, and plasticizers, with pharmaceuticals alone accounting for 50% of the pollutants.
Infrastructure Failure and Official Response
The core of the problem lies in failed infrastructure and overwhelming pollution loads. The lake is serviced by two sewage treatment plants (STPs) with a combined capacity of 12 million litres per day (MLD). However, officials admit that nearly 20 MLD of sewage enters from surrounding areas like Madhapur. The excess, untreated sewage is diverted through a channel into Malkam Cheruvu, then to Neknampur lake, and finally into the Musi River.
Compounding the issue is the lack of dedicated stormwater or sewage pipelines near the lake. The lake receives inflow from two major points—Nectar Garden and Silent Valley—and multiple smaller inlets from homes, restaurants, and businesses. GHMC officials identify 11 inlets feeding the lake: three for sewage and eight for stormwater. However, due to poor infrastructure, these streams often mix, especially during rains.
"This isn't just mismanagement, it's environmental negligence. STPs are not working. There is a manhole right on the track, which sometimes overflows onto the track, making its way to the lake," said Sanjeev Raj, a walker at the park.
When contacted, HYDRAA commissioner AV Ranganath acknowledged the problem, stating that the presence of water hyacinth is a clear indicator that sewage inlets are still active. "We need to carry out a detailed mapping of the area to understand where the sewage is coming from. We have also received complaints of encroachments. We will look into it," he said. This response, however, offers little solace to residents who have been waiting for concrete action for over two years since the high court's intervention.
