Hyderabad: Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister K. Tarakarama Rao said he would convene a meeting with legislators of Greater Hyderabad to discuss the issues pertaining to storm water drains in the GHMC limits.
Replying to a question raised MIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi, BJP floor leader G. Kishan Reddy, Congress MLA Komatireddy Venkat Reddy and other legislators during Question Hour in Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, the minister admitted that the existing storm water drainage system in GHMC area and nalas failed to drain out the water during recent rains.
He said GHMC has only 1221 KM of storm water drain which is insufficient and causing for water stagnation at various localities during rainy season. Apart from this, lakes and nalas are encroached resulting in reduction of capacity of the lakes and nalas, he said.
KTR said that the GHMC has taken up improvement of bottlenecks for 47 storm water drains at a cost of Rs. 230 crore. A total of 13 chronic water stagnation points have been identified and action is being taken to rectify the same. He said action was also being taken for widening of nalas by removing encroachments.
The minister informed that the GHMC has identified 346 Road Vulnerable points which are prone to water stagnation. Estimates are being prepared to rectify the same at a cost of Rs. 121.44 crore. By next monsoon, these points will be rectified, he said.
He also that said that 63 lakes in GHMC limits have been taken up for development and beautification
Replying to various supplementary questions, KTR said as against the 43 lakh cubic metre of debris removed last year, this year 78 lakh cubic metre debris was removed from nalas this year.
He said it has been decided to take up desiltation of nalas throughout the year and a Mini Airtech machine has been procured for the purpose. He said criminal cases have been registered against 12 engineers on complaints of irregularities in desiltating works.
KTR said good practices being implemented in other States in cleaning up nalas were being studied and they would be implemented in GHMC for better results. (INN)