Residents raise concern over burning of vegetation in Secunderabad
Secunderabad: Residents of Secunderabad, particularly those in the Gordhanpuri and Sylvan Greens colonies, have raised serious concerns over the burning of vegetation on open land along General Road. The burning, aimed at clearing the land, has resulted in thick smoke enveloping the area, causing significant inconvenience and health risks to local residents.
The handle Greensainikpuri (@greensainikpuri) highlighted the issue on social media, which raised an urgent appeal to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to take action. “Open land on General Road between Gordhanpuri and Sylvan Greens colonies is being indiscriminately burned to clear the land. The whole area is enveloped in smoke. Please take immediate action and confirm,” the post read, tagging relevant authorities, including @GHMCOnline, @CommissionrGHMC, and @DC_Malkajgiri.
@GHMCOnline@CommissionrGHMC@DC_Malkajgiri
Open land on Generals Road between Gordhanpuri and Sylvan Greens colonies – vegetation is being indiscriminately burned to clear the land. The whole area is enveloped in smoke.
Please take immediate action and confirm@Comm_HYDRAA pic.twitter.com/loq3wmSz27
— Greensainikpuri (@greensainikpuri) November 11, 2024
Other citizens also voiced their concerns. One user, Crumbled Walnut, urged the GHMC to issue a stern written warning to the perpetrators, calling the situation “bothersome” and warning that it would only worsen if left unchecked. Greensainikpuri expressed concern about the long-term consequences of such practices, questioning the impact of any proposed infrastructural development in the area. “If they are proposing a huge infrastructural venture, how is it going to help the local residents? Rather, it will choke the region, which is already struggling with improper junctions and very narrow roads. Shouldn’t town planning review this first?” they asked.
Kumar Shastri suggested that the Commissioner’s office consider deploying a mobile inspection team to respond quickly to such issues. “It would be great if @Comm_HYDRAA had a mobile inspection team that could arrive within 5 minutes and impose the necessary penalties as per law. Who knows, such fires could be dangerous as well,” he added, recommending a toll-free number for residents to report similar concerns.
Would be great if @Comm_HYDRAA has a mobile inspection team who can arrive within 5 minutes,and impose the necessary penalties as per law,because who knows such fires could be dangerous also,rather than directing this to persons above. A toll free number with wide publicity also.
— Kumar Shastri (@kmshastri1) November 12, 2024
The situation became even more pressing as residents like Meena Ravindran pointed out the proximity of the burning site to local schools. “Is it even permitted? That too near school premises. Immediate action needs to be taken to stop such unsafe practices after proper inspection,” she wrote. Minelle Waller, another local resident, shared her frustration, saying, “Exactly. We’ve all been breathing this smoke for the past 10 days, non-stop burning of trees from early morning to late evening.”
In reaction to the public’s concerns, the GHMC’s official social media account assured residents that action was being taken. “Dear citizen, the area sanitation team has been informed to inspect the site and attend to it,” the GHMC handle replied.
Following this, AMOH28MALKAJGIRI (@amoh_c28) confirmed that sanitation staff had visited the site, instructed the plot owner, and imposed a penalty. “Good morning, sir; sanitation staff visited, and instructions were given to the concerned plot owner not to repeat this, and a penalty was imposed,” the tweet read.
Good morning sir sanitation staff visited and instructions given concerned plot owner not to repeat this and imposed penalty
— AMOH28MALKAJGIRI (@amoh_c28) November 12, 2024
In 2017, the Telangana government issued a directive prohibiting the open burning of waste, including at landfill sites. The order mandates fines of ₹5,000 for minor incidents and ₹25,000 for large-scale waste burning. The competent authorities can recover these fines as arrears of land revenue, ensuring enforcement and accountability.
