Hyderabad drainage system collapses even with 5 cm rain; CM Revanth pins hope on Musi Project

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy today said the Musi Rejuvenation Project will serve as the only permanent solution to Hyderabad’s recurring flood woes for the next century.

Chairing a high-level review meeting late Friday night, soon after returning from New Delhi, he directed officials to overhaul the city’s infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events caused by climate change.

Urgent action on flood and traffic issues

The Chief Minister instructed Municipal Administration & Urban Development (MA&UD) officials to expedite the Musi project, strengthen the drainage network, and prepare permanent solutions for floodwater management, traffic congestion, and the drinking water supply. Plans must cover Hyderabad’s needs for the next 100 years, he stressed.

Officials informed the chief minister that the city had received up to 15 cm of rainfall in just four hours the previous night, inundating low-lying areas and causing severe traffic jams. Since June, areas under GHMC have recorded 16% above-normal rainfall. Revanth Reddy noted that existing drainage systems fail even with 5 cm of rain, making modernization imperative.

Musi river revival plan

Revanth Reddy called for channelizing flood water from all directions of the city within the Outer Ring Road into the Musi River. Major water bodies, including Hussain Sagar, Durgam Cheruvu, and Mir Alam Tank, will be connected to Musi via drains. Tanks and ponds will be restored, drains widened, and all drainage water treated through Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) before being released into Musi.

A strong network will ensure that all rainwater from tanks, canals, and water bodies flows into the river during heavy rains. This, the chief minister said, will protect habitations along Musi’s 55-km stretch from inundation.

Clean water for people and farms

Highlighting the health risks from crops irrigated with polluted Musi water, the chief minister proposed a continuous flow of purified water in the river to serve drinking, agricultural, and industrial needs. Purified water could also be supplied through tankers, he suggested.

Traffic and Parking Solutions

To address traffic chaos during rains, the chief minister ordered special plans for a pedestrian zone in the Old City and permanent solutions to parking shortages. Multi-level parking facilities will be developed in Charminar, Salar Jung Museum, High Court, and Osmania Hospital areas to ease congestion.

The meeting was attended by CM Advisor Vem Narender Reddy, CM Secretary Manik Raj, MA&UD Secretary (HMDA Area) Ilambarthi, MRDCL MD E.V. Narasimha Reddy, JMD Gauthami, Ranga Reddy Collector Narayana Reddy, and other senior officials.