Playground turns garbage dump in SR Nagar

Hyderabad: For many years, the SRT quarters in SR Nagar, home to over 100 families, including youngsters in PGs and hostels, have had to live with heaps of garbage in an open space right in the middle of their neighbourhood.

According to locals, this area used to be a playground. However, over the years, as small-scale businesses such as food stalls and grocery stores have grown, the site has turned into a dumping ground for garbage.

"Despite the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) frequently cleaning the area, people keep dumping their waste there. It has become a never-ending cycle," said Srinivas C, a grocery store owner who has lived in the neighbourhood for over 50 years.

Meanwhile, the ownership of the land is also contested, with residents claiming it belongs to the community. However, there is a govt board just outside which says, ‘Government property, trespassers will be prosecuted.' Ownership claims aside, residents say they want the plot of land to be put to good use for the community, such as a public park, sports centre or library, but first the garbage must be cleared away.

"We are willing to give up our fight for the land if the govt turns it into something that can be used by members of the community instead of letting it go to waste," Srinivas added.

The garbage pile has also led to a foul stench and a severe mosquito infestation, sparking serious health concerns among residents.

"In the evenings, it becomes impossible to go outside as there are too many mosquitoes. My friends and I avoid that stretch of road because the mosquitoes swarm around us," said Polu Ganesh Reddy, a resident of Sri Ganapathi Boys Hostel in the colony.

"The situation worsens even more during the monsoon season, when all the waste from the dump spills onto the road," said Tejashwi, a school student.

GHMC officials said they have been clearing the rubbish regularly. "We keep clearing the rubbish, but people keep dumping more, so it's difficult to keep the area clean all the time. Moreover, the land is disputed, and once the court has decided on ownership rights, further action can be taken to beautify the area," said Chandrashekhar Reddy, a GHMC official working in the Khairatabad circle.