Hyderabad civic bodies delay drain desilting works
HYDERABAD: Civic corporations have delayed desilting of drains, with pre-monsoon works yet to begin despite summer advancing. Engineers, who are expected to complete the exercise before the monsoon, are citing tenders and delaying the process.
The inaction has left low-lying areas vulnerable. A moderate spell of rain recently led to flooding in several colonies in LB Nagar, Patancheru and Shaikpet. The situation is similar across all three corporations under the core urban region.
Officials said failures in engineering departments are the primary reason.
Commissioners ignore mandatory two-phase desilting schedule
Desilting works are scheduled in two phases every year , pre-monsoon from January to May, and post-monsoon from June to October. However, commissioners of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and peripheral civic bodies did not prioritise the works amid division restructuring and formation of new corporations.
Last year, emergency monsoon works were handled by HYDRAA. There is a view that assigning desilting works also to HYDRAA could yield better results, but corporations have shown reluctance.
Waste-choked drains trigger flooding across colonies
On March 24, a moderate rain inundated several colonies in Shaikpet, including Hakimsha Vihar Nagar, Hakimsha Nagar and Nizam Colony. Jubilee Hills’ Sri Krishna Nagar witnessed waterlogging as usual.
More than 100 colonies reported water stagnation up to waist level. Floodwater remained on roads as stormwater drains were clogged with waste.
In Bulkapur nala, which carries floodwater from Narsingi, OU Colony, Laxmi Nagar Colony, Film Nagar and Chintal Basti to Hussain Sagar, waste accumulation has obstructed flow. Drain widening works have been pending for three years.
Afzal Sagar nala, where two people died last year, and Gudimalkapur nala, which floods roads after brief rain, are also choked with debris.
