Weather Hyderabad: City at Risk of Flooding Due to Incomplete Desilting
The incomplete desilting work and outdated sewage pipelines have left Hyderabad vulnerable to flooding, and the city's residents are bracing for the worst as the monsoon season approaches, with the IMD predicting heavy rains and gusty winds in the coming days.
Hyderabad is bracing for heavy rains, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) upgrading its warning for Telangana districts, but the city's stormwater drains are not fully prepared, with only 68% of desilting work completed by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).
The GHMC has identified 203 desilting works across 951 km of stormwater drains at an estimated cost of Rs 55.04 crore, but the work is behind schedule, with 54% completed in the Khairatabad zone, 65% in Serilingampally, and 69% in Secunderabad. Last year's heavy rains caused waterlogging and submergence in low-lying areas due to blocked drains, and residents are worried that the same situation may recur this year.
Weather enthusiast T. Balaji predicts heavy rains in the city, with some areas expected to receive 40-60mm of rain, and the IMD has issued a yellow alert for Hyderabad, with a generally cloudy sky and gusty winds forecast. The monsoon onset spell is expected to hit the city today, with widespread moderate to heavy downpours predicted in various parts. The city's outdated sewage pipelines, laid over a decade ago, are inadequate to handle current sewage outflows, and residents are demanding a permanent solution to prevent waterlogging and ensure flood-resilient infrastructure.
The GHMC needs to complete the desilting work and address the issue of outdated sewage pipelines to prevent waterlogging and flooding in the city. Residents are urging the authorities to take immediate action to ensure that the city is prepared for the monsoon season and to prevent the recurrence of last year's flooding and waterlogging.