GHMC delay in building stormwater drain causes waterlogging in Shaikpet

Hyderabad: Delayed implementation of stormwater drain project leaves Shaikpet residents struggling with waterlogging.

The delay continues to persist even after most of the formalities for the initial work to begin have been completed. Funds amounting to Rs 54 lakhs for a new stormwater drain project were sanctioned a week ago. Shaikpet corporator Mohammed Rashed Farazuddin, along with GHMC officials, visited the area on Thursday and promised the residents that work will start on Friday (June 7).

But the residents of OU Colony, Shaikpet in Hyderabad, did not see any stormwater drain works start on Friday. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) said that it had taken a crucial step to mitigate the long-standing problem, but no significant progress has been made so far.

Danger to traffic

For a significant period, the issue of waterlogging has caused immense inconvenience and safety concerns for the residents of the OU Colony. The situation had reached a critical point, with cars and bikes frequently falling into waterlogged areas, posing a serious risk of accidents. Moreover, pedestrians were struggling due to the deplorable condition of the roads.

Highlighting the dire consequences of the waterlogging problem, Sunduru Rajashekar, president of Huda Colony, Shaikpet expressed concerns about drainage water flowing into the main stream in front of the residents’ houses. He said, “Waterlogging has not only inconvenienced the residents but has also created an unpleasant odour in the vicinity. Despite multiple requests to the municipal corporation committee and the local councillor, Vandana Nagesh, the problem remains unresolved.”

Responding to these concerns, Vandana Nagesh, the IV ward member of Manikonda Council explained that the area falls under the jurisdiction of GHMC but “no action has been taken for an extended period.” “There’s a lack of accountability from the relevant authorities in addressing the persistent problem. However, after receiving the complaints we went and surveyed the area and the local residents informed us that, instead of clearing the water it is being pumped towards Manikonda municipality, leaving the Sreeja’s road filled with water as the area slope towards them,” she added.

The water level in this area has risen dramatically over the past week, causing distress to the residents. This is not the first time OU Colony has faced such issues, as they previously encountered similar situations along the road from OU Colony to Kanakadurga Temple.

GHMC closed case

As the place lies on the borders of GHMC and Manikonda municipality, the issue has been neglected leaving citizens in trouble. A resident of Sri Bhagyanagar Colony P Sandeep said, “It’s been more than a week now since we registered a complaint with the GHMC. They closed my ticket marking it as a non-GHMC area. Now I’ve stopped bothering govt officials and public representatives realising they come to us only during elections.”

A resident of OU Colony said, “That particular corner is really dangerous. I’ve seen many vehicles skid there because there’s always stagnant water. Initially, we had hoped that the issue would be resolved when a new road was laid. Unfortunately, our hopes were dashed when an apartment construction commenced nearby. They built a small wall that blocked the water from passing through. So now there is waterlogging again. And on top of that, the manholes in that area always overflow, making things even worse.”

Persistent issues

The waterlogging problem here has been a problem for many years. In 2020, Twitter user Subhasish Bose posted about the problem, saying that cars and bikes have been falling into the waterlogged areas. Pedestrians also had difficulty walking on the roads because of the poor condition. Bose tagged KT Rama Rao, the minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development, in his tweet, asking for his help to resolve the problem.

Speaking about the delay in clearing the water, GHMC executive engineer Vijay Kumar Reddy stated that they are actively working on finding a solution. “The presence of a nearby apartment on the slope complicated the situation, making it challenging to clear the waterlogged area as intended. Additionally, residents placed sand and mud to block sewage water from entering their premises.”

Reddy further explained that whenever efforts were made to pump out the water, the sewage would overflow, affecting the houses in the vicinity.

It has been reported that the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) granted permission for construction projects which end up obstructing water flow in the area. Some residents of Shaikpet and Manikonda blamed the HMDA for allowing constructions that encroach upon lakes and worsen the waterlogging situation.

Immediate attention is required to address the water removal problem and alleviate the distress faced by the residents of Sri Bhagyanagar Colony. The delay in implementing the stormwater drain project and the hindrances caused by obstructive construction have further complicated the waterlogging issue.