As the Monsoon approaches, the status of the ongoing works under the Telangana government’s Strategic Nala Development Program (SNDP) in the GHMC limits remains unclear, despite the fact that the previously stated deadline has passed.
Delays in these major projects may cause the city to flood again after each downpour. Situations from previous years appear to be repeating themselves as work is delayed. The city had also been flooded as a result of the recent unseasonal rains.
As part of the SNDP, work has begun in the first phase at a cost of Rs 958 crore to develop 60 nalas in various areas where floods were reported in 2020 due to heavy rains and residents suffered losses.
Of the total 60 works, 37 belong to the GHMC, while the remaining works belong to the surrounding municipalities. The GHMC initiated 37 projects with the monsoon action plan, of which 15 components have been completed, 8 more are nearing completion, and the remaining are in various stages, according to a GHMC officer.
“These SNDP projects were delayed due to changes in land acquisition issues and shifting of underground utilities like sewage pipelines and underground cables.” The GHMC has undertaken projects in all six zones, including eight in Secunderabad, three in Kukatpally, ten in LB Nagar, seven in Charminar, seven in Khairtabad, and two in Serilingampally.
The SNDP projects include the construction of bridges/culverts, the repair of existing drains, the widening of stormwater (SW) drains, the construction of retaining walls near small stormwater drains, and the construction of box drains.
The SNDP was formed in the aftermath of the October 2020 floods in Hyderabad, which caused heavy flooding due to cloud bursts and unusually heavy rainfall, resulting in the loss of lives and infrastructure damage. Throughout the monsoon season, the GHMC stated that the SNDP works would be completed by 2022, but various phase-I projects have yet to be completed.
Municipal administration and urban development minister K T Rama Rao, on the other hand, has directed officials to complete phase-I by June 1, before the monsoon season begins.
Several projects are currently in the works, including six in the LB Nagar zone, five in the Secunderabad zone, three in the Charminar zone, and one in the Kukatpally zone. Furthermore, under phase II of the SNDP, 148 works were designated in two parts based on priority.
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