Retaining wall works moving at a snail's pace

Musheerabad: The construction of a retaining wall with an estimated cost of Rs 1.60 crore was inaugurated by the then Home Minister Naini Narsimha Reddy in November 2018, with an objective to prevent inundation of Nagamaiah Basti and other colonies abutting open nala during heavy rains in Musheerabad.

The retaining wall became necessary as every rainy season the colony gets inundated with the overflowing nala. Although the works started in November, the contractors failed to complete even half of the works. Slum residents expressed fears that the delay in the works may result in inundation of colony this rainy season.

Mathangi Dayakar Rao, a resident of Dayanand Nagar, complained that the retaining wall is being constructed only on one side of the nala, and only 50% of the works are completed, so far. The overflowing nala may flood the colonies on the other side, he said.

Sudhakar, a resident of Nagamaiah Basti, said that the retaining wall is being constructed only to prevent inundation of two-bedroom houses that are being constructed near the nala. With only half of the works completed before the monsoon, the construction of houses may be further delayed if flood waters enter the houses, he said. GHMC EE Papamma said that works started immediately in November 2018.

The bills were paid to contractor before elections, but further payments were delayed due to the election code. Also, delay by the Electricity Department to remove poles at the spot delayed the works, she said. She said that the works are being taken up at war-footing and would be completed before the last week of June.

She said that priority is being given to prevent inundation of the colony and the wall abutting the colony would be completed in the first phase. The remaining wall beside the double-bed room houses will be completed later, as the houses are yet to be occupied, she said.