HYDERABAD: Police outposts have been proposed at the Osmansagar and Himayatsagar lakes on the lines of the one already in place at Hussainsagar to prevent illegal activities.
The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) has come up with this solution to check pollution of water bodies following a National Environment Engineering Research Institute (Neeri) report calling for an increased vigil at the city's two main water sources.
"Neeri states in its report that, in view of uncontrolled activities, the water quality in Osmansagar and Himayatsagar lakes has deteriorated substantially. We have held meetings with the Rangareddy district administration and the Panchayat Raj department to discuss the measures to be taken to protect the water sources from pollution," a senior HMWSS&B official told STOI.
The official added that the water board has already sent a proposal to the Rangareddy district administration in this regard. Although the water board has its own vigilance team, made up of a few police personnel, it visits the reservoirs only upon specific complaints of 'illegal' activities reaching them through locals.
For instance, although there is a ban on fishing, bathing and washing clothes in these water bodies, local fishermen and others fish in these reservoirs. "Although we have booked several offenders, these activities continue," the official added.
"We need round-the-clock patrolling of the shores of Osmansagar and Himayatsagar lakes. Police can then crack down against locals for polluting these man-made lakes with fertilizers and other chemicals," he said.
On weekends, moreover, there is a huge turnout of picnickers who fish and bathe in the reservoir waters. "Water board police cannot control these picknickers. So, we came up with the idea of a permanent police outpost. If all goes well, the police outpost will be in place by March-end," the official replied.
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