Hyderabad: HYDRAA intensifies anti-encroachment drive to avoid flooding this monsoon

Apart from removing encroachments on nalas, HYDRAA, along with SNDP engineers and GHMC engineering teams, is also clearing silt and garbage from manholes, catch pits, and culverts to ensure smooth water flow.

Supporting GHMC beyond tender obligations

HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath revealed that nearly 150 monsoon emergency teams and 51 Disaster Response Force (DRF) teams are not sitting idle on non-rainy days. They are engaged in removing garbage, silt, and plastic waste that accumulates in and around 940 culverts within the GHMC area.

“This is not part of our work as per the tender, but we are supporting GHMC in this task as clogged drains and nalas ultimately result in severe waterlogging and flooding,” Ranganath said.

Focus on catch pits and problematic culverts

HYDRAA has prioritized cleaning of catch pits, culverts, and other critical points where plastic waste and silt choke the stormwater drainage system. Officials emphasized that the removal of garbage at these locations would significantly improve water flow during heavy rains.

Encroachment removal gains momentum

Meanwhile, encroachments obstructing nala works are also being cleared. Recently, HYDRAA machinery was deployed in Nallagandla HUDA Colony to demolish structures built on nalas, paving the way for the completion of the stormwater drain under the Strategic Nala Development Programme (SNDP).

The nala, originating from Nallagandla Lake, passes through Doctors Colony, Rail Vihar, Nallagandla HUDA Colony, Old Serilingampally Village, and Netajinagar before merging with the main nala near BHEL crossroads.

HYDRAA officials also claimed that the encroachers had constructed permanent buildings and unlawfully occupied a section of the stormwater drain by building an apartment in Nallagandla. Unauthorized buildings had been dismantled by some of the encroachers willingly and by others unwillingly.

Meanwhile, the HYDRAA Monsoon Emergency Teams (METs) removed tons of trash that had accumulated in the open nalas in Madhura Nagar and Krishna Nagar in Yousufguda. Waste and other plastic waste that had been disposed of in the nala at Janardhan Reddy Colony in Gachibowli were also retrieved by the rescue forces.

The nala catchment areas in Markandeya Colony in Kapra Circle, RCI Road in LB Nagar, and the nala passing from Manthrala Cheruvu to Jillellaguda in Mithila Nagar also underwent comparable treatment. Locals, who suffer inundation every monsoon, expressed relief after encroachments were cleared.

Preparing for the battle during peacetime

The HYDRAA Commissioner said, “Labour engaged by HYDRAA is being used effectively on non-rainy days to prepare for the battle during peacetime. On rainy days or when there is a rain forecast, these teams will be deployed to address waterlogging issues on roads.”

He also added that such pre-emptive efforts would mitigate water logging, inundation, and flooding problems to a great extent this monsoon.