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Hyderabad unprepared for rains

Residents of low-lying areas complain of water entering homes

Hyderabad: Every rainy season, the inefficiency of the GHMC authorities come to the fore. This year, despite 60 teams being formed by the GHMC to undertake monsoon-related works in June, the city remains chaotic with potholes, open drains and uneven patches on roads.

There are also many low-lying areas in the city that suffer from waterlogging. In a few areas in old city, water gets into people’s homes and even submerges vehicles.

“A few works are in the completion stage while a few are in progress. De-silting of about 760 km of drains is completed, which is about 95 per cent of the work. Other activities like patch works on the roads are a continuous process, and are in progress,” said T. Anjaneyulu, superintendent engineer of GHMC.

The situation at traffic-heavy areas such as Moazam Jahi Market, Malakpet, Shahalibanda, Khilwath, Santoshnagar, Phisalbanda etc. is awful. The Phisalbanda road, which is known to be accident-prone, also has problems of waterlogging.

“For the past 10 years, the waterlogging situation has been so bad that water gets into our homes. A few accidents have taken place in the past, but nothing has been done. Moreover, there are potholes and speed-breakers that cause accidents regularly,” said Vani Sree, a resident of Chatrinaka.

It is the responsibility of the Disaster Management Cell of the GHMC to take precautionary measures, carry out repair works and plan ahead in order to finish the works before monsoon.

“We are doing our best, we have come up with 18 emergency vehicles for the 18 circles of the GHMC, which will be equipped with instruments like water pumps, cutters etc. for immediate solutions, said Prabhakar, executive engineer, Management Cell.

Infrastructural facilities like bus shelters, mobile vans etc., have not been provided yet, though this is the time they are most needed. “I travel by bus from Shivajinagar to Sainikpuri every day, and it becomes difficult to wait for buses or autos when it rains as there are no bus shelters even at the main bus stops,” said Yoganand, a student.

( Source : dc )
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