Flooding and waterlogging in Hyderabad spotlight misplaced priorities in urban development
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The first day of monsoon in the state also saw the first instance of waterlogging throwing life out of gear in congested low-lying locales of the Old City while the rest of the city experienced merely a pleasant drizzle, throwing light on the misplaced priorities in urban development during times of changing rainfall patterns.
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Under the SNDP, the GHMC is implementing 37 works at Rs 757 crore whereas another 23 works are taken up by adjoining 9 municipalities at Rs 197 crore. According to the corporation, it has studied the city’s existing storm-water drainage network to identify narrow points, encroachments of channels, etc. The works under progress include widening existing nalas, desilting, restoration of lakes, construction of new bridges and sluice gates, and allowing for diversion of run-off from waterbodies to nearby colonies.
As images of inundated low-lying areas and river-like water flow on streets emerged on Wednesday morning, the GHMC is facing criticism for their failure to complete the flagship project before the monsoon.
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As part of a pre-monsoon safety audit, an official on the condition of anonymity said, the civic body has identified 300 vulnerable points adjoining different nalas and covered these locations with safety meshes and installed signboards. GHMC engineering wing’s 168 mobile and mini-mobile monsoon action teams, and 19 teams of GHMC’s disaster management wing will work with the electricity, water and police departments, he said. Control rooms are set up in the headquarters as well as zonal offices.
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