HYDRAA Launches Major Drain Desilting in Fatehnagar, Balanagar to Avert Industrial Area Flooding
HYDRAA officials said that removing silt only near culverts would not be enough and that the drain needed to be cleared along its length.
Hyderabad:HYDRAA’s Disaster Response Force (DRF) and Monsoon Emergency Teams (METs) have begun desilting works along stormwater drains in Fatehnagar and Balanagar to improve stormwater flow and reduce flooding in the industrial area. HYDRAA commissioner A.V. Ranganath inspected the desilting works on Thursday along with officials from connected departments.
The teams were using excavators to remove silt that has accumulated over several years. HYDRAA officials said that removing silt only near culverts would not be enough and that the drain needed to be cleared along its length.
The work has been taken up for nearly 3 kms from Deendayalnagar. Officials said that several feet of silt had accumulated in almost all parts of the drain, restricting the movement of stormwater. The desilting has resulted in several truckloads of silt being removed.
Officials informed the commissioner that the drain, which was originally planned to be about 25 metres wide at its starting point and around 40 metres in parts of Fatehnagar, has narrowed down at several places due to encroachments. Ranganath directed officials to identify the encroachments and take steps to remove them. He said a meeting would soon be held with owners of industrial units in Balanagar to discuss the encroachments and ensure that the stormwater drain was kept clear.
The stormwater drain carries run-off from the Pariki and IDL lakes through Kukatpally, Fatehnagar and Balanagar before joining the Hussainsagar system. Officials said its capacity has been affected by silt, waste and encroachments.