Extensive safety audit for nalas across Telangana

Hyderabad: A first of its kind safety audit extensively for nalas located in all major Municipal Corporations and Municipalities including the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation will be taken up shortly.

As part of the exercise, officials will identify places along the nalas that need to be strengthened and developed to take up works including strengthening and repairing of nalas and safety measures like building retaining walls.

The audit will being taken up following the instructions from Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister KT Rama Rao.

“Despite a series of precautionary measures taken up by the government every year, a few unfortunate accidents are being reported. This year, as we have adequate time to take precautionary measures like building retaining walls of nalas, officials should ensure that no untoward incidents are reported,” the Minister said on Tuesday while reviewing safety measures and works taken up to strengthen the nala network in the city under the State government’s Strategic Nala Development Plan (SNDP).

Onus on higher-ups

He also warned officials that in case an untoward incident was reported in future due to lack of safety measures near the nalas, higher rank officials would be held responsible for the incident.

GHMC Commissioner DS Lokesh Kumar was asked to review SNDP works and safety measures at nalas every week while Mayor G Vijaya Laxmi was instructed to conduct field visits and monitor the SNDP works.

Civic body officials were also instructed to make sure there were no lapses in strengthening, repair works and safety measures of nalas. He asked them to execute the SNDP works with comprehensive planning.

“GHMC officials including zonal commissioners and ground level staff should stick to the plan and take up nala works to ensure safety of people living around water channels,” the Minister said.