With urban floods becoming a regular occurrence in Hyderabad, Telangana Municipal Administration Minister KT Rama Rao on Tuesday said the state government will bring in a law, if necessary, for the development and expansion of drains and lakes in the city.
He was reviewing a comprehensive program by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) for development and expansion of drains in the city to avoid flood-like situations.
Rao said that in view of rapid urbanization, there is a need to strengthen the age-old drains and sewer system. He said Hyderabad has been receiving heavy to very heavy rains in the recent past and the government is developing and expanding drains to avoid a flood-like situation in the city.
According to him, the state government will bring a comprehensive drain development program and if needed, bring in laws for expansion and development of drains. He said that a meeting will be held soon with all the MLAs of the GHMC border.
The government wants to do this work in a planned manner so that citizens are not inconvenienced in future. He said, ‘The government will take care of the poor affected by the drain expansion work. The government is also considering allotting 2 BHK Dignity houses to the affected on the basis of their eligibility.
The zonal commissioners of GHMC submitted a detailed report on the works done to the minister, including removal of blockages in drains, expansion of drains and construction of retaining walls. The Minister directed the officers to do all these works in line with the Strategic Nala Development Programme. Rao asked the officials to identify the blockages in the drains and remove them on priority basis.
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