HYDRAA removes drain slabs in Kondapur to prevent flooding
HYDERABAD: HYDRAA has begun removing slabs covering stormwater drains in Kondapur’s Jubilee Gardens after inspections found that accumulated silt and blocked drains were increasing flood risks in several parts of the city.
HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath, accompanied by officials from multiple departments, inspected flood-prone areas including Jubilee Gardens, Shamshabad, Attapur and Ramdevbabanagar. Officials said heavy silt accumulation and the inability to access drains for desilting had obstructed the natural flow of floodwater.
According to officials, floodwater from Botanical Gardens, Sri Ramnagar and the Kondapur Police Battalion area is meant to flow into a pond near Meenakshi Towers before reaching Mullakathwa Cheruvu through outlet drains. However, drains clogged with silt have caused water to inundate Jubilee Gardens and surrounding localities.
Officials said continuous slab coverage over drains had prevented routine desilting operations. They noted that if access points had been provided at intervals of three metres, large-scale maintenance could have been carried out more effectively.
Drain width reduced, flow obstructed
HYDRAA started removing slabs and clearing silt in Jubilee Gardens on Saturday. During the inspection, officials found that a flood drain with an intended width of 2.15 metres had narrowed to around 1.5 metres near Meenakshi Apartments. They said pipes laid across the drain further restricted water flow and contributed to flooding.
Officials also identified flaws in drain interconnections designed to divert sewage and stormwater separately. These deficiencies were found to be adding to flooding in the area.
Ranganath directed officials to remove slabs wherever necessary and undertake full-scale desilting. He instructed that grills be installed over drains after the work is completed, with openings provided every three metres to facilitate future maintenance.
Similar issues found in Shamshabad and Attapur
Officials said blocked drains and inadequate floodwater inlets were also responsible for waterlogging in Shamshabad, Ramdevbabanagar and Attapur.
They pointed out that floodwater was unable to reach a village pond in Ramdevbabanagar because of inadequate inlets, resulting in water stagnation along the Shamshabad Airport Road.
At Pillar No. 265 on the PV Narasimha Rao Expressway, inlets leading to Meerlam Cheruvu were found clogged with silt. Similar problems were identified near Pillar No. 191, where drains meant to discharge floodwater into the Musi River were not functioning properly.
Officials said flooding should not persist in these locations if drains remain clear and maintenance is carried out regularly.
Ranganath directed HYDRAA Asset Department inspectors and field staff to monitor the affected areas closely. He said he would review the situation again within a week and instructed officials to implement permanent solutions before then.
The Commissioner also called on the Irrigation, Municipal, Revenue, Police and Traffic Police departments to coordinate efforts to minimise inconvenience to the public.
