Contamination of Musi River

Musi River Pollution

The most threatening problem of Musi River pollution is from water soluble, non-volatile, fairly reactive and environmentally persistent Organic Halogen Compounds, (POPs), some of which exhibit properties of high toxicity, bioaccumulation or carcinogenicity. These have applications as chemical intermediates in manufacture of pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, dyestuffs; paints etc.The discharges from the industrial units engaged in these activities, in & around Hyderabad, find their way into Musi River.

The monitoring of this group of compounds in industrial effluents is of paramount importance, but APPCB, ignoring this vital aspect, concentrates only on less significant parameters such as COD,,BOD, TDs etc.As there does not seem to be an effective treatment to remove these toxic pollutants, the Supreme Court directed segregation of waste stream containing these non-degradable pollutants at the very source of their generation ie at the industry itself, instead of sending it to CETP or discharging into drains or sewers. But unfortunately this very aspect is being ignored both by the Industry and APPCB and trying to dilute pollution & accountability and shift the problem.

CAG Report

The CAG, which reviewed the activities, programmes and policies relating to the control of water pollution during 1994-2000, in its report placed before the Assembly on 31-3-2001, stated that ground water in areas along Musi River contained high levels of pollution and endangered public health. The water samples collected from down stream of Musi and analyzed by private agencies, are also reported to have shown high levels of Lead, Chromium, Mercury and Arsenic in ground as well as surface waters.

EPTRI Report

It is estimated that about 350 MT of TDS load is being pumped into Musi every day, along with untreated & under treated industrial effluents being let out into the river. Because of predominant conditions of scant flows for most part of the year, the Musi River cannot provide even the minimum dilution required to keep the concentration levels within stipulated limits. The other point is the residues of toxic Heavy Metals and POPs, which are not being tracked, are finding their way along with the effluents.

The seriousness of pollution problems in the villages down stream of Musi, can be judged from the concentration of heavy metals like Lead, Cadmium, Nickel, Chromium, Zinc, Selenium etc recorded in sewage sludge and fodder grass grown in the sludge. The data is given in State of Environment Report for Hyderabad published by EPTRI in 1996.I t is also evident from discoloration of, brass vessels used in some of the villages along Musi River

Discharges from CETP Jeedimetla (JETL)

The TDS concentration levels of treated effluents (diluted) being discharged by JETL into Duplicate K-S Sewers connected to Ambarpet STP, are reported to be varying between 12,000 to 17,000, far in excess of the stipulated standards, ultimately finding their way into Musi River, as Amberpet STP can not remove TDS Load, except diluting the concentration levels.

The APPCB is trying to mislead the public by saying that industrial effluents being let into Musi River is not even one percent of total effluents being discharged into the river and their concentrations are well within the permissible levels at the point of discharge. But the fact of letting out about 350 tons of TDS containing toxic and non-degradable substances into Musi every day is being suppressed. Where does it all go? During non-flood period, all most all these substances are being absorbed into soil and ground water, within 10 to 40 Kms of Amberpet STP, where the effluents are being utilized for agriculture purposes and for filling fish tanks etc, having serious adverse impacts on ground water, crops, livestock and the life.

How else APPCB can explain the presence of Arsenic of 1.33 mg/L in ground water of Edulabad village in Ghatkesar Mandal of R.R.District and large scale fish kill in Enkiryal Cheruvu fed by Musi waters hardly 30 Kms from Hyderabad, in Bibinagar Mandal of Nallagonda District in the last week of November 2000? This is ample evidence of high toxicity of effluents already being discharged into Musi and further discharges from CETP Pattancheru will only make things worse in the villages downstream of the river.

Discharges from CETP Pattancheru (PETL)

The Minister of State for Environment & Forests, Govt. of India, is reported to have complimented APPCB &PETL for commissioning 18 KM pipeline for transferring PETL treated effluents to surface-water standards to Amberpet STP & discharging into Musi. He is also reported to have stated that this will minimize water pollution at Pattancheru.

The following remain unanswered regarding the performance of PETL & Pollution Loads:

a) The Swedish Environmental Scientist pointed out that the process of water treatment plant of PETL is outdated and the treated water, though free from suspended solids and clarified, is still contaminated. How is it ensured that the discharges from PETL into 18 km pipeline are free from traces of toxic pharmaceutical ingredients and conform to inland -surface water standards?

b) If the outlet standards, applicable for discharge into inland surface waters, are being met by PETL, why not the treated effluents from PETL, be utilized by the member industrial units in Pattancheru Area? What is the need to use the 18 Km pipeline, to convey treated effluents, suitable for discharge into inland surface waters, all the way to STP at Amberpet, incurring considerable recurring expenditure for pumping etc?

c) The very fact that commissioning of 18 KM pipeline will minimize water pollution at Pattancheru, as reported to have been stated by the Minister, does it amount to shifting the pollution problem from Nakka Vagu to Musi River, for diluting the pollution concentration levels (pollution load remains the same) and the accountability that too cleverly camouflaged in a pipeline?

d) How does 18 KM pipeline & STP Amberpet help to prevent the load of 11 most abundant active pharmaceutical substances discharged from PETL and accumulating down stream of Musi, which is not a perennial river?

e) As the waterborne drugs promote antibiotic-resistant germs, especially when they are mixed with bacteria in human sewage, how does STP Amberpet get over the problem?

Abatement of Total Pollution of Musi River ?

It is to be seen, how abatement of total pollution of Musi River is going to be achieved under NRCD Phase-II (Musi Revitalization Project), by just building additional STPs, Laying new Sewer lines etc incurring considerable expenditure, while continuing to permit untreated \ under treated toxic industrial effluents into the Sewer Lines ?

_______________________________________________________________________________