Monsoon will be the best judge for a host of measures the GHMC has taken to address widespread inundation of roads at various points in the city during rain spells.
Most of these measures are only temporary in nature and expected to see this season through, rather than avert flooding of roads in future.
For over three years, the city has been witness to heavy inundation and waterlogging on many stretches, even during moderate showers. This is resulting in a nightmarish traffic situation, leaving commuters, GHMC monsoon emergency teams and traffic police exhausted.
Intense brainstorming sessions were held last year among expert engineers of the JNTU-Hyderabad and GHMC officials to find city-specific solutions to this chronic issue. The JNTU’s Centre of Excellence on Disaster Management has come up with a voluminous study on long term solutions to urban flooding. The study identified 229 waterlogging points and proposed additional 450 km of stormwater drains.
The solutions also include rainwater harvesting pits and structures in massive numbers, sewage treatment plants, and 636 water tanks to store and reuse the treated water. “We have prepared a note based on the recommendations and sent it to the government for approval. The project costs ₹5,600 crore in all and can be taken up only in phases,” said an engineering official from GHMC.
Meanwhile, the corporation has taken a slew of measures in fire-fighting mode to combat the flooding of roads in immediate future.
Of the 195 waterlogging points identified by the city traffic police, GHMC has addressed issues pertaining to 157 points. Thirty-eight points are on roads belonging to Hyderabad Road Development Corporation (HRDCL), Hyderabad Metro Rail, and Cantonment, and the measures taken by them will be known after the city coordination meeting scheduled shortly.
Fifteen locations have been identified as critical waterlogging points, where the action taken includes laying of new stormwater drains, de-silting of existing drains, etc. At a few locations, where inundation is unavoidable, the corporation has laid CC roads to prevent damage after water recedes. At a few more, monsoon emergency teams have been deployed with pump sets to clear water, say officials.
At 74 locations identified as major waterlogging points within GHMC’s purview, at least 12 have been left for the emergency teams to handle. Nala de-silting is expected to address the situation at over 25 points, while pipelines and drains have been laid at equal number of locations. “This time round, the de-silting works have been done well. We are expecting good results,” the official said.
Similar measures have been taken up along with construction of retaining walls on nalas at 68 minor waterlogging points.