SCB takes flood prevention measures in vulnerable cantonment colonies

The Secunderabad Cantonment Board has intensified monsoon preparedness by undertaking desilting works in Patny and Hasmathpet nalas. The initiative aims to improve drainage, prevent flooding in vulnerable colonies and ensure smoother stormwater flow before the rainy season begins.

Hyderabad: With the monsoon all set to set in, the efforts for monsoon preparedness have been stepped up in Secunderabad Cantonment Board areas. The authorities have initiated the desilting of nala network across various residential colonies in the jurisdiction.

A senior sanitation wing official of the SCB told ‘Telangana Today’ that the works were being carried out as part of measures aimed at ensuring smoother drainage during the monsoon season. The focus is also on preventing flooding in areas located along the two major nalas- – Patny Nala and Hasmathpet Nala- – in the Cantonment area.

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Two earth movers were deployed in these two nalas, and with an aim of completing the works in another couple of weeks, the official said.

The desilting works began mainly at Patny Nala in Rasoolpura, where residents of Patny Housing Colony, Paigah Colony, Viman Nagar, and BHEL Colony experienced major inundation during last year’s monsoon.

The nala passes through Mahendra Hills, East and West Marredpally, Seshachalam Colony, Picket, Balamrai, Jubilee Bus Station (JBS) surroundings, and up to Rasoolpura.

Officials of SCB had then demolished illegal structures that became a major bottleneck on the Patny Nala, shrinking the passage, resulting in inundation.

Subsequently, a retaining wall was built on the shore area of Patny Nala. “This year, these areas may not experience inundation due to retaining wall protection and desilting work,” said the SCB official.

Hasmathpet Nala carried heavy stormwater flows from the northern borders of the Cantonment through several residential colonies. The affected colonies included Old Bowenpally, New Bowenpally, Anjaiah Nagar, Royal Enclave, ICRISAT Colony (Phase-II), Amaravathi Colony, SAIL Colony, Philips Godown area, Dhanalakshmi Colony, Bhavana Colony, Chinna Thokatta, and parts of Trimulgherry.

Not only were the colonies inundated, but all the internal roads were choked with rainwater during last year’s monsoon due to heavy rainfall.