Monsoon preparations: Is Hyderabad ready for rains?

Desilting of nalas and drains is progressing at a snail’s pace. Huge piles of mud remain accumulated on main roads, along with uncovered manholes, open craters filled with pebbles, and potholes that remain unfilled — all of which are likely to become major problem areas once the rains begin to lash the city

Hyderabad: With the monsoon just around the corner, is Hyderabad geared up to handle the expected copious rains?

Questions are raised given the apathy of administration in addressing issues pertaining to infrastructure needed for the season. At several places, works like desilting of nalas and drains, can be seen progressing at a snail’s pace.

Instructions were issued on fencing open nalas and displaying signagages to prevent mishaps at box drains and storm water drains, but the same is yet to translate on the ground.

In certain areas, desilting works are yet to commence while huge piles of mud remain accumulated on the main road (like under the Balanagar flyover). At Shyamlal area in Begumpet, which experience inundation every monsoon, desilting works are yet to be completed.

Other issues such as roads with potholes not filled, road bits cut but not re-carpeted, open craters filled with pebbles and uncovered manholes are going to be problem areas for motorists once rains start to lash the city. A resident of Kukatpally, A Sunderrami Reddy laments that lessons apparently were not learnt from previous instances of people being washed away in open drains and manholes.

When contacted, GHMC Chief Engineer, Ratnakar said, “as of now, GHMC completed 70% of desilting works, and for the remaining works, the tender process is already completed and will be finalised in two or three days.”