Major exercise underway to prevent water woes: Dana Kishore

Madhapur: GHMC Commissioner Dana Kishore and West Zone Commissioner Hari Chandana held a review meeting on the issues of obstacles and obstructions on free flow of rainwater along with engineering officials, at Cyberabad Police office on Sunday. Later, accompanied by officials, they inspected the various parts of the Hi-Tec City.

1. Around 500 personnel of various departments pressed into service during monsoon
2. Officials asked to remove all obstructions to free flow of water and enlarge vents
3. They are told to impose heavy fines on those dumping construction & debris material

Dana Kishore disclosed that GHMC was taking major steps to tackle the situation of inundations in the city. Overall, the civic body identified 197 major inundation points in the city, of which 37 were solved permanently. Remaining 160 points were categorised into in A, B and C grades, depending on the severity of the scene.

For 'A' Catogory points, GHMC would install a motor pump on permanent basis and deploy manpower to pump out the water as and when it accumulates. At 'B' category points, motors would be installed at business establishments, residential areas etc.

Altogether, there are around 500 personnel of various departments like, Monsoon Emergency Teams, DRF Team and Disaster Management Cell are pressed into service during the monsoon period.

The GHMC officials visited various places, along with Laxman Rao, a JNTU professor, and made suggestions on how surplus rainwater can be diverted into open places by making percolation tanks near Shilparamam, Nector Gardens and Durgam Cheruvu.

The Commissioner instructed officials to cut and remove private cables which are left unattended as they are obstructing free flow of water. Further, he instructed them to enlarge vents at footpaths wherever possible so that the water recedes quickly.

At SRDP works, the staff were asked to ensure no sand and metal accumulate. Sign boards also should be put up, cautioning commuters to take precautions at such spots. Safety measures for workers' safety were also asked for. The Commissioner ordered the officials to impose heavy fines on those dumping construction and debris material on roadside.