Siddapur Villagers Protest Hyderabad Waste Facility
Residents of Siddapur village are protesting a newly approved solid waste processing facility designated for their land. The project, termed 'Eco Town', is intended to treat waste from Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation.
Key takeaways
- Siddapur villagers are protesting against a new waste processing facility approved for their land.
- The 'Eco Town' project is intended to manage waste from Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation.
- Concerns include potential pollution, displacement of industrial plans, and impact on real estate.
- Villagers claim a lack of public hearing and question the effectiveness of pollution controls.
Villagers in Siddapur, located in Ranga Reddy district's Kothur mandal, are opposing a solid waste processing facility approved on 86 acres of their land. This site is designated to handle waste generated within the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits.
What Happened
Protests began prior to the government's official orders in early July for the 'Eco Town' project, described as a waste management and waste-to-energy plant. Villagers, alongside opposition party leaders, have engaged in multiple demonstrations, including 'Chalo Collectorate' protests, submissions to the district collector, discussions with Mahabubnagar MP D.K. Aruna, and a 'rasta roko' on National Highway-44. On August 11, 2026, a sit-in protest was held at the Tehsildar’s office.
Background
The land in question was originally acquired in 2021 under the previous BRS government with the stated purpose of establishing an industrial park. Villagers, including B.Tech graduate Sri Charan Chari, expressed concern that the acquired land, initially intended for industrial development and totalling 330.34 acres (with 248 acres acquired), would be fully utilized for waste treatment, potentially displacing planned industries.
The 'Eco Town' project is classified as a 'Blue Category' industry by the Central Pollution Control Board, a designation for essential environmental services like solid waste management and waste-to-energy plants. This classification means a public hearing was not mandated prior to approval. Concerns have been raised about potential air pollution from such facilities, citing existing issues with a nearby stone-crushing unit that has impacted local croplands.
Key Facts
- Protests occurred at the Siddapur MRO office on August 11, 2026.
- Siddapur village is in Kothur mandal, Ranga Reddy district.
- The facility is approved for 86 acres and designated for Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) waste.
- The project is referred to as 'Eco Town'.
- Official orders for the project were issued in early July.
- 'The Hindu' first reported on the 'Eco Town' project on May 26, 2026.
- Villagers organized 'Chalo Collectorate' protests and a 'rasta roko' on National Highway-44.
- Land was acquired in 2021 for an industrial park.
- A total of 330.34 acres were designated for the industrial park, with 248 acres acquired from villagers.
- The 'Eco Town' project is classified as a 'Blue Category' industry, exempting it from public hearings.
- The Himayat Sagar drinking water reservoir is approximately 25 kilometers away.
- GHMC authorities stated waste will be treated and landfilled, not dumped, at Siddapur.
- Villagers were informed the Jawahar Nagar facility would close once the Siddapur facility becomes operational.
Villagers are apprehensive about the implementation of pollution control measures and the potential negative impacts on real estate values. The current waste processing facility at Jawahar Nagar, which is reportedly causing significant air and water pollution within a 10-15 kilometer radius, exacerbates these fears. The proximity of 22 villages within a 5-kilometer radius and 74 within a 10-kilometer radius has led to broader community involvement in the protests. Furthermore, the location is considered concerning due to its connection to the Himayat Sagar drinking water reservoir, located about 25 kilometers away, as water from a local lake flows into the reservoir system.
GHMC officials assert that waste will not be dumped but treated and landfilled at Siddapur. However, villagers also received information suggesting that the Jawahar Nagar facility would cease operations upon the launch of the 'Eco Town' project.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
