Save Siddapur opposes eco-town over Himayat sagar pollution fears
HYDERABAD: What began as a quiet unease over a line in a government press release has grown into one of the most significant grassroots environmental movements in Rangareddy District in recent years. Residents of Siddapur village and more than 15 surrounding settlements in Kothur Mandal are mounting sustained protests against a proposed Eco-Town project that they say would route Hyderabad’s waste to a site that sits at the headwaters of Himayat Sagar, within sight of Rajiv Gandhi International Airport(RGIA), and barely a kilometre from a 700-year-old interfaith shrine.
The controversy erupted when Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka referenced Bandaraviryala and Siddapur as locations for waste management and circular economy initiatives during the Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0 conference held in New Delhi on May 19-20, 2026. The specific mention of Siddapur appeared in the official press release issued by the Telangana Information and Public Relations Department (IPRD). In which Bhatti Vikramarka said the proposed Eco-Town project at Bandaraviryala and Siddapur, inspired by the Kitakyushu model of Japan, would become a significant milestone in Telangana’s circular economy journey.
For nearly two weeks after the conference, residents asked officials for clarification but got no answers. The local MLA stayed silent until the protests grew, then assured people the reports were just rumours and the project would not be allowed.
“Our concern didn’t come from social media gossip. It came from an official government announcement,” said Sricharan Chary, a Siddapur resident, who was part of Save Siddapur movement, told HyderabadMail. “If no facility is planned, why did the Deputy Chief Minister mention Siddapur?” he asked.
Meanwhile, the land in question covers about 340 acres in Siddapur village. The previous government acquired it from local farmers for an Industrial Park and IT Hub, then handed it to the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC). Residents accepted the plan, hoping for long-promised economic development.
Now, new orders seek to transfer about 150 acres from TGIIC to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) for the Eco-Town. Residents call this a betrayal of earlier promises. Amme Raghavender, a structural engineer and Siddapur resident, noted that former minister KTR had once pitched the same site as an IT hub. “Politics aside, this prime land could be used for something much better,” he said.
Protesters fear pollution threat to Himayat Sagar
The biggest worry for many is water safety. An independent technical survey by Raghavender shows Siddapur sits at the top of a gravity-fed water system. Water here flows directly into Himayat Sagar, one of Hyderabad’s main reservoirs.
Most importantly, the survey traces the water’s path. Rainwater collects at Siddapur Cheruvu (575 m elevation), then flows to Kalwakole Cheruvu (552 m), and then to Palmakul Cheruvu (544 m), the sub-basin’s main collector. From Palmakul, water travels under the Outer Ring Road (532 m) and into Himayat Sagar (512 m), joining the Esi River’s main southern tributary.
In an exclusive conversation with HyderabadMail, Raghavender also highlighted the history of this system. After the Musi Flood of 1908, famed engineer Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya identified Palmakul Tank as a key upstream tank in the Esi River catchment. The Musi River Flood Memoirs document this. Today, lake protection authorities monitor the whole catchment to keep the natural water flow unobstructed.
“Every drop of water on this land ends up in Himayat Sagar said Raghavender, adding that the government is planning to spend Rs 1.5 lakh crore on Musi rejuvenation downstream, but is now proposing to pollute it at the source.
Additionally, the Jawahar Nagar landfill disaster adds to local fears. It is pertinent to note that studies have found massive leachate leaks, and toxic metals like lead, cadmium, and chromium contaminated groundwater within 5 to 10 km. Kothur Mandal already faces industrial pollution. Residents estimate 50,000 people in 15 villages within 10–15 km would be at risk if waste is dumped on this site.
The site is also just 1–2 km from the 700-year-old Jahangir Peer Dargah, a Sufi shrine. The Dargah is famous for interfaith harmony, with Hindus and Muslims praying together. Hundreds of buses bring devotees from Hyderabad every day, Raghavender said.
Residents say that toxic smells, groundwater risk, and environmental damage from a waste plant would ruin the shrine’s character. The PCC President recently visited the Dargah and assured people that no such project would go ahead, highlighting its political and social importance.
A third concern is aviation safety. By road, the Siddapur site is about 18 km from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA). The aerial distance is 15–18 km, well inside the 20-km no-waste-facility zone set by Rule 91 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, due to bird hazards.
Further, Raghavender added large open waste yards attract scavenging birds like kites, crows, and vultures. Their flight paths would cross airport approach and departure routes. In winter, smoke and toxic particles could get trapped near the ground, worsening RGIA’s problems with low visibility and flight disruptions.
Locals demand consultation before project decision
The area around Siddapur is mainly agricultural. Fifteen to twenty nearby villages rely on farming. Local flowers, vegetables, and dairy supply Guddimalkapur and Shamshabad markets every day. About 80% of the area’s economic activity is tied to agriculture. Groundwater pollution like that at Jawahar Nagar would devastate this supply chain.
The Save Siddapur movement brings together farmers, workers, students, women, and elders. The group says it is not against development, but wants transparency.
“We are not against development or scientific waste management. We want transparency, environmental studies, public consultation with all affected villages, and guarantees that local communities and water resources will be protected,” said Chary.
Their demands include a government clarification on the Eco-Town project, full environmental impact assessments before any decision, real public consultation with all villages, and guarantees for groundwater and water bodies in the region.
“The people protesting are farmers, workers, students, women, and elders who are truly worried about their villages’ future. We are not motivated by politics. We just want transparency and consultation before any decision that affects our lives and future generations,” said Chary.
