Dumping of garbage into nalas continues across Hyderabad, raising flood risks
HYDERABAD: Dumping of old furniture and garbage into stormwater drains has become a routine sight across Hyderabad, with nalas increasingly being used as informal dumping yards by nearby residents and commercial establishments.
The problem is acute along the Musi River and its feeder streams, where civic officials say indiscriminate dumping has worsened the risk of flooding during the monsoon. Despite repeated appeals and warnings from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), the practice continues unabated.
Areas around Alwal Lake and adjoining streams are among the worst affected, with waste being dumped wherever drains are easily accessible. Photographs published by Deccan Chronicle showed old furniture and garbage dumped in several nalas across the city, including along the Musi.
Civic officials said fruit vendors, petty traders, eateries, and meat and poultry shops were among the main offenders, often discarding waste directly into the drains. Although barricades and steel mesh have been installed at several locations, people frequently damage them to dump garbage.
Explaining the consequences, GHMC chief engineer Sahadev Ratnakar said clogged nalas were a major reason for inundation during heavy rains. “The city has suffered during the rains primarily due to choked drains. We have taken precautions such as fencing, but people continue to dump waste into nalas,” he said.
Ratnakar said officials regularly caution offenders and impose penalties through the sanitation wing but stressed that enforcement alone was not enough. “Civic awareness must match the spirit of the law,” he added, underlining the need for greater public accountability to prevent flooding and protect urban infrastructure.
