Telangana Existing River Problems

By: Jaismeen, Sudeshna, Isha, Arijit, Sathvika,

Akhil

River Manjira:
The Manjira, also spelled Manjara or Manjeera, is a tributary of the river Godavari. The increasing
number of industries and the lack of adequate industrial effluent treatment plants are posing a serious
threat to the Manjira River, the major drinking water supply source to the city.

Research shows that Himayat Sagar and Osman Sagar have already been contaminated with hazardous
industrial wastes. Ramachandran has carried out hazard analysis on freshwater reservoirs in the city. Her
latest findings show that both Manjira and Nizam Sagar are under threat of contamination from the
industrial area of Gaddapotharam, Bolaram and Patancheru, all located within 15km from the
waterbody. One of the major tributaries of the Manjira River, Nakkavagu is located 5km from the
Patncheru Industrial Development Area.

In her project report, submitted to the ministry of environment and forestry in 2002, Ramachandran
states that although the slope of the area is not very steep towards the Manjira River, the sediment load
and contaminant flow will prove hazardous to the water. The industries located in Medak and Ranga
Reddy regions include those manufacturing pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, paint, dye, and chemicals.

The water in two nalas flowing under a railway track in the region is very dirty and almost black in color
due to the inflow of effluents from nearby industries, thus polluting the river Manjira
 - Manjira river
polluted

River Tungabhadra:

The river is the major source of drinking water for people of Rayala-seema, parts of Telang-
ana state and Karnataka. While the Union government is attempting to reduce pollution in
the Ganga, no such effort has been made in the Tungabhadra. The total catchment area of
the river is 69,552 sq km up to its confluence with the Krishna and 28,177 sq km up to
Tungabhadra dam.

industries and mining on its banks in Chikama-galuru, Shimoga, Davan-gere, Haveri, Bellary
and Anantapur release effluents into the river. Major polluters are located in Shimoga,
Bhadravati and Hospet in Karnataka and in the AP border areas. There is also a significant
presence of polluters in Koppal and Raich-ur districts of Karnataka, Kurnool district of AP
and Mahbubnagar district of Telangana.
Experts say that the Tungabhadra is one of the most polluted rivers in the country. Down
river from the industries, the water turns dark brown and has a pungent odour, Mr.
Dhananjay from Kamalapuram in Bellary district said.

A study revealed that pollution in the Tung-abhadra had affected direct or indirectly more
than 10 lakh people in the sub-basin as most villages use the river water for drinking,
bathing, irrigating crops, fishing and livestock water.

Musi River:
Musi River is a tributary of the Krishna River in the Deccan Plateau flowing
through Telangana state in India. Due to indiscriminate urbanization and lack of
planning, the river had earlier become a receptacle of untreated domestic and
industrial waste dumping out of Hyderabad. It was estimated that nearly 350 MLD
of polluted water and sewage originating from Hyderabad and Secunderabad flow
into the river. Efforts to clean it have failed. The river water downstream of the
cities remained highly polluted and considered to be a major disaster in
Hyderabad. 51% of untreated sewage from drains and nalas is discharged directly
into the river, thus acting as another reason for Musi river to be highly polluted.

- - Highly polluted Musi river

We cannot live with sewage-strewn beaches, contaminated rivers, and fish that
are poisonous to drink and eat. To avoid these scenarios, we can work together to
keep the environment clean so the water bodies, plants, animals, and people who
depend on it remain healthy. We can take individual or team action to help
reduce water pollution