Encroachments choke Kapra nala, threaten inundation

​Kapra: Local residents are wary about experiencing severe hardship during heavy rains, as the Kapra nala is getting narrow following alleged encroachments. There is a threat of several colonies getting inundated with flood water, as was the case last year. 

Residents living near the nala, told The Hans India when would the officials concerned would pay attention to the issue, while stressing on the need for preventing illegal occupation of the nala and taking advance precautionary measures in view of the flood threat and sewerage overflowing.

According to the residents, there is a flood threat to several colonies in the Kapra division as there is smooth passage of water flow downstream due to the narrowing of the nala.  They accuse officials of being negligent in widening the nala from Sadan Vihar Colony to Dhaba Garden. 

As a result, the condition of the nala has remained virtually unchanged. If the nala is not widened, the last year’s scene of several colonies in Kapra, AS Rao Nagar and Cherlapally areas getting inundated could be repeated this year.

Residents of these colonies had to suffer for a week trying to remove flood water from their houses and virtually staying awake. These residents fear a repeat of last year’s harrowing experiences if the GHMC and HMWSSB officials fail to take remedial action at least now before the monsoon turn active once again.

The residents point out that the incomplete nala widening work from the Kapra tank to Chakripuram nala spending lakhs has proved to be ineffective as garbage and filth have piled up in the Kapra nala. 

They accuse the people’s representatives of failing to take action against the occupants of the nala because of which the flood water entered many houses in several colonies last year, causing severe hardship to them. 

The residents point out that the even the nala cleaning work was done casually and in a half-hearted manner. ‘If there is heavy rain this year we are bound to face the same horrowing experiences once again’, warns a resident of Kapra, Pathi Kumar.

When THI contacted, DE Balakrishna said every year Rs 20 lakh is being spent from the GHMC funds for nala repairs from January to December. He stated that at spots where the nala is narrow, heavy machinery can’t be used. This is causing problem, according to DE. Hence men would be deployed for taking up repairs/widening works.