Ameerpet residents concerned over delay in stormwater drain works amid monsoon

Residents of Gangubhai Basthi and Srinivasa Nagar in Ameerpet have expressed concern over delayed stormwater drain works, fearing flooding during the monsoon. Locals blame poor coordination between GHMC and HMWSSB, while students complain about difficulties caused by ongoing excavation.

Hyderabad: Residents of Gangubhai Basthi and Srinivasa Nagar, behind Maitrivanam, in Ameerpet, have raised concerns over the slow progress of stormwater drain (SWD) works, saying the delay could lead to inundation during the ongoing monsoon.

Gangubhai Basthi drew attention after Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy made a sudden visit during last year’s monsoon, when the city witnessed torrential rains. Slum residents told the Chief Minister that the locality faced frequent inundation every rainy season due to the stormwater drain overflowing.

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During the visit, he directed the officials concerned to revamp the existing stormwater drain by widening and remodelling it, and to complete the work on a war footing to avoid inconvenience.

Residents, however, said the works were continuing at a snail’s pace. The delay has been attributed to a lack of coordination between Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) in completing the works.

At Srinivasa Nagar, earth excavation work was seen at the stormwater drain site behind Maitrivanam, with soil piled up, causing inconvenience to locals and students. Srinivasa Nagar has been a hub for software-related coaching centres for several years, with hundreds of students passing through the area from their hostels. The locality remains busy with students, Xerox centres, and stationery shops.

Students express worries about the excavation works remaining unfinished for the past two weeks. They said a heavy downpour had added to difficulties while crossing the site and urged officials to complete the work immediately.

GHMC officials of Khairatabad Zone said the slab work on the stormwater drain had been completed, and that laying sewerage lines remained pending from the HMWSSB side. They said GHMC would lay a new CC road soon after the pipeline work was completed.