BJP conducts COVID-19 puja, flushes out 1 lakh litre water

Hyderabad: Around one lakh litres of drinking water was flushed out in Musheerabad on Monday after a group of people allegedly affiliated to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) broke into the pumphouse and conducted a ‘puja’ to control the spread of COVID-19.

Officials of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) were forced to pump water out from a reservoir which is under the control of the HMWSSB , after an instance of trespassing at the Risalagadda-Harinagar pumphouse.

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The incident triggered mild tension in the area on Sunday night as several people gathered and picked up an argument with the group. It is even alleged that an unknown substance had been mixed in the drinking water as part of the rituals that were conducted, which could endanger peoples lives.

“The water is supplied from here to eight colonies, including four bastis where people belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC) communities live. When we saw them and stopped them, they claimed that they are doing a ‘puja’ to ensure that coronavirus doesn’t spread. We immediately alerted the Musheerabad police and also filed a complaint,” a resident told reporters on Monday.

As tensions escalated, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) corporator for Ramnagar, V Srinivas Reddy reached the spot along with Musheerabad MLA Muta Gopal and other officials of the HMWSSB on Monday.

“I condemn the incident which took place. When curfew is in place, if masked people have broken the lock and entered, it is not a small incident. Strict action will be taken by police and the culprits should be sent to jail,” Muta Gopal told reporters.

Speaking to TNM, Srinivas Reddy said: “The water in the reservoir was first treated with chemicals before it was pumped out. The water was pumped out onto the streets as officials could not take a chance, with the state already dealing with several cases of COVID-19. Later, fresh water was pumped in.”

“There was no supply to the usual areas from that pumphouse on Monday. Instead, water was routed through the Chilkalguda pumphouse directly with the help of gravity. One lakh litres have been wasted,” he said.

“Firstly, they have trespassed into HMWSSB property and we don’t know what exactly happened inside. Maybe it was superstition. If they really wanted to do a ‘puja’ to ward off the coronavirus, they should have done it at a temple, or spoken to the locals and conducted it outside the pumphouse. Trespassing it was unacceptable,” he added.

“A case had been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for trespass and further investigation was underway,” said an investigation official from the Musheerabad police station.