Encroached Nalas, Clogged Drains Flood Yousufguda and Ameerpet

Hyderabad: Encroachment of the Yousufguda nala, lack of desilting of stormwater drains, damage caused by metro pillars, garbage choking the drains — these are some of reasons for Yousufguda and Ameerpet getting waterlogged even after a moderate spell of rain.

Around 20 years ago, the Yousufguda nala was over seven feet wide. Over the years, it has gradually shrunk and is now barely one foot in width, with residential and commercial establishments mushrooming over it. Adding to the problem of encroachments, the GHMC does not undertake periodic cleaning of stormwater drains.

Currently, water from Jubilee Hills Road No. 10, via Venkatagiri, drains onto Yousufguda main road. The rainwater flows directly on the roads, gushes through the bylanes — where dozens of residential and commercial establishments line both siShrinking stormwater channels, Metro damage, poor upkeep worsen monsoon waterloggingdes — and inundates Yousufguda.

Adding to the problem, a portion of the nala near Shri Kotla Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy Stadium in Yousufguda was damaged while Metro Rail pillars were being grounded.

Similarly, the nala connecting Yousufguda and Ameerpet has also narrowed due to encroachments. The width of the nala has been reduced at the Ameerpet–Sanjeeva Reddy Nagar main road, and the drains are clogged as well.

The nala near Satyam Theatre in Ameerpet has not been properly desilted. A recce of the area revealed that at the main road near Ameerpet Metro Station, there is no proper provision for rainwater to drain out.

The stormwater drains are unable to handle the volume of runoff. Though waterlogging has been a persistent issue for years in these areas, the problem has been especially highlighted this monsoon due to severe traffic snarls.

Locals, especially senior citizens residing in and around Jubilee Hills Road No. 10, also pointed out that the waterlogging problem in Ameerpet worsened after Yousufguda Cheruvu was beautified and integrated into Krishna Kanth Park.

“Earlier, only after the Yousufguda lake was full, the excess water would drain into Ameerpet. However, with the development of the park and the diversion of stormwater drains, Ameerpet is now getting inundated,” said a senior citizen.

Earlier, Yousufguda lake acted as a buffer, mitigating urban flooding in Ameerpet. But after it became part of the park, runoff from Yousufguda and its surrounding areas began flowing directly into Ameerpet.

In Ameerpet, it was also observed that due to shoddy road restoration works, rainwater is not entering the vents along either side of the road effectively.

Speaking about remedial measures, a GHMC engineer said that a box drain or rainwater holding structure has been proposed near Ameerpet Metro Station. GHMC officials also claimed that desilting is being undertaken, but people continue to throw garbage into nalas, further choking them.

Night out

Police, civic and emergency response personnel were out on the roads on Thursday, responding to the intense rain that hit the city from the evening to past midnight.

Traffic Police

· More than 3,000 personnel, including constables, inspectors, SHOs, ACPs and DCPs working round the clock to clear traffic and remove waterlogging across the city.

HYDRAA

· Control room received more than 120 complaints; 78 solved same day

· 41 tree falling complaints, all cleared

· 36 waterlogging complaints. Some redressed, work continuing on Friday.

· 2,000 Disaster Response Force (DRF) and Monsoon Emergency Team (MET) staffers on-ground.

Discom

· 350 phone complaints received, all complaints solved within 30-60 minutes

· 43 feeder breakdowns on Thursday.

· 220 fuse off calls (FOC) teams on-duty across Greater Hyderabad limits, with 12-15 people per team ready to respond to emergencies.

· Emergency Response Teams (ERT) placed on sub-division levels.

· Over 3,000 workers working on solving emergencies

· Once a feeder breaks down, officials get automatic messages about the breakdown and personnel deputed to solve the issue.