KTR cautions civic officials to be on alert to mitigate impact of heavy rains in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: Given the forecasted heavy rain in Hyderabad over the next two to three days, Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) Minister K.T. Rama Rao asked senior officials from the Municipal Administration department on Wednesday to take all necessary precautions to mitigate the impact of the rain and ensure public safety.

At a review meeting held at Hyderabad Growth Corridor Limited (HGCL) office at Nanakramguda on Wednesday, the Minister asked the officials to coordinate seamlessly with other departments, especially with Electricity, Revenue and Police (Traffic) departments, and Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB). He stressed that officials prioritise prevention of loss of life as the topmost concern.

Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) officials apprised the Minister that they already undertook various measures as part of monsoon preparedness. Dewatering pumps were placed in low lying areas and arterial roads which were prone to flooding. The officials expressed confidence that strengthening of nalas as part of the Strategic Nala Development Plan (SNDP) would effectively address issues in flood-prone areas during the monsoons this year.

The sanitation management of Hyderabad city was also a major topic of discussion during the review meeting. KTR emphasized the need for proactive measures and not being complacent with positive results in the past few years.

The Minister said that due to the city's rapid expansion and expanding population, garbage generation has grown, necessitating a more robust sanitation management plan in the future. The officials presented their immediate and short-term strategies to address sanitation concerns, and the MA&UD Minister emphasised the critical need of prioritising and focusing on sanitation management.

Arvind Kumar, Special Chief Secretary of MA&UD, D.Ronald Rose, Commissioner, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), Deputy Commissioners from the Municipal Corporation and others were present during the review meeting.