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Hyderabad: Fresh questions have emerged over Hyderabad’s sewage treatment network, with the Telangana govt informing the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that several sewage treatment plants (STPs) discharging into Hussain Sagar, Musi river and a host of city lakes had exceeded prescribed pollution norms at various points during 2025. The 172 MLD Nagole STP reported BOD exceedances in March, April and July, along with a marginal exceedance in May. Among them, the 10 MLD Nacharam/Pedda Cheruvu STP recorded BOD exceedances from March to July and again in Oct. The 17.5 MLD Pedda Cheruvu-HMT Nagar STP reported BOD exceedances through much of the monitoring period and recorded TSS and COD exceedances in Oct.
STPs at Nalla Cheruvu recorded exceedances in BOD, COD, TSS and TC during different months, while two Attapur STPs discharging into the Musi also reported BOD exceedances. TC levels exceeded standards in April, July and Aug. Several city lakes affected The state’s filing also recorded similar instances at STPs discharging into Pedda Cheruvu, Durgam Cheruvu, Khajaguda lake, Saroornagar Cheruvu, Bhagiradha/Manikonda Cheruvu, Noor Mohammed Kunta, Safilguda lake, Rangadhamuni Cheruvu and Langer House lake.
The findings are part of the state’s latest compliance affidavit, filed before the NGT on Sept 7, by chief secretary Sanjay Jaju. However, the affidavit notes that the data pertains to tests conducted during 2025 and does not, by itself, establish that the STPs are currently violating prescribed standards. 3 Hussain Sagar-linked STPs flagged Three STPs with a combined installed capacity of 183 MLD, namely Khairatabad, KIMS/Picket and Fatehnagar, whose final discharge point is listed as Hussain Sagar, recorded one or more parameter exceedances. At the 20 MLD Khairatabad STP, BOD levels remained above prescribed limits from March to Aug and again in Oct 2025. The 30 MLD KIMS/Picket STP recorded BOD exceedances in March, April and from July to Oct, besides a COD exceedance in Oct. The 133 MLD Fatehnagar STP recorded marginal BOD exceedances of 11-12 mg/L against the prescribed limit of 10 mg/L in March and April. The 339 MLD Amberpet STP recorded BOD and COD exceedances in Oct. The affidavit was filed after the NGT, during a hearing on Feb 25, sought clarifications on earlier submissions, including the performance of sewage treatment plants. Separately, the state informed the tribunal that it faces a municipal solid waste processing gap of 1,856 tonnes per day and has targeted completion of additional waste processing infrastructure by Dec 31.
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These CETPs recorded exceedances in parameters including total dissolved inorganic solids, COD, BOD, TSS and ammoniacal nitrogen during certain months, according to the affidavit. The affidavit includes plant-wise monitoring data showing instances where treated effluent exceeded permissible limits for biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), and total coliform (TC). TC exceeded standards in Aug, while COD crossed permissible levels in Oct. The plant was under maintenance in May. BOD levels remained above standards from May to July, while TC exceeded permissible levels in June. Musi-bound plants also report violations Several STPs discharging into Musi river also figured in the annexure. The facility also receives partially treated industrial effluent from common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) at IDPL and PETL. Download the TOI App.