Flood threat: Telangana govt sanctions Rs 853 Cr to strengthen stormwater drains
On April 7, the government issued an order listing the works to be taken up before southwest Monsoons arrive in June.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 8 April 2021 7:44 AM GMT
Hyderabad: Waking up to the growing flood threats, the Telangana government has sanctioned Rs 853 crore to strengthen and remodel the existing stormwater drains and construct surplus weirs at different lakes in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and neighboring municipalities.
On April 7, the government issued an order listing the works to be taken up before southwest Monsoons arrive in June.
The civic works are primarily to prevent inundation in low-lying areas and to minimize human and property damage. The orders directed the officials to execute the works and ensure that inundation of low-lying areas do not recur.
It may be recalled Hyderabad received unprecedented rainfall for over a week in October 2020. The flood took away many lives and caused intensive flooding of many low-lying areas. Around 40,000 families living in and around Hyderabad were affected by the floods.
Later the Municipal Administration department of the state took up inspection to check the loopholes.
An in-depth analysis of the infrastructure of Hyderabad revealed that deficiencies in the existing Storm Water Drainage (SWD) system and encroachment of lakes led to floods.
To ensure no such further damage is caused, the officials decided to revamp the drainage system.
The government established a Strategic Nala Development Programme (SNDP), a dedicated project wing in Hyderabad to plan, develop and maintain comprehensive stormwater drainage and Nala system in the city.
Post-October floods, all the six zones in GHMC and the neighboring municipalities and municipal corporations were instructed to submit details of damages suffered due to the heavy rains and remedial measures, both short and long term, were planned to mitigate damages and ensure free flow of water downstream.
After conducting a detailed study of the existing Nala amd the stormwater drainage system, SNDP identified various critical narrow points, encroachments on nalas, trunk mains, and feeder nalas and submitted a detailed report to the government. The SNDP recommended different works in peripheral ULBs as well.
These works will be executed in 15 different packages to expedite the work and complete them at the earliest. Officials said tenders would be floated shortly for taking up these works.
