Monsoon emergency teams asked to be alert

Hyderabad : The GHMC and the water board have earmarked Rs 100 crores for taking up works of urgent nature relating to monsoon, including desilting and emergency repairs. Principal Secretary Municipal Administration Arvind Kumar held a meeting with the officials of GHMC and Water Board and took stock of the monsoon preparedness of the respective departments.

GHMC Commissioner B Janardhan Reddy, Water Board MD Dana kishore and other officials were present on the occasion.

GHMC officials informed that detailed survey was conducted to identify the dilapidated structures. Of the 996 dilapidated structures identified 667 structures were demolished in the last three years. Notices have been issued to vacate and demolish the buildings. A special drive will also be conducted to demolish the most dangerous structures. Similarly instructions are already issued for ban on any new excavation of cellars till the end of monsoon and stringent action will be initiated against the violators.

A total of 270 desilting works have been sanctioned for year 2018-19. Desilting of all the open nalas, covered drains and small drains is taken up on annual basis and Rs 26.62 crores is sanctioned. So far 2.4 lakh cubic metres of silt has been removed from the drains till date which is 0.1 cubic metre more than the quantity desilted last year. Emergency monsoon teams are kept in all the circles for tackling with water logging and inundation problem of low lying areas during the monsoon. 252 monsoon emergency teams comprising Instant repair teams, mini mobile monsoon emergency teams, mobile monsoon emergency teams, central emergency teams and static labour teams have been pressed into service for attending the issues during monsoon like clearing of fallen trees etc., 132 vulnerable locations where work stagnation occurs during rains have been identified and 132 static labour teams have been deployed round the clock during the monsoon.

As many as 255 pumpsets have been deployed this year as against 93 pumpsets in 2017 for carrying out dewatering of low lying areas. Police have identified 266 water logging points in 2017 of which 225 points belong to GHMC. Out of this 221 points have been attended and the remaining four points works are in progress and will be completed by next week. The drainage capacity in Hyderabad is meant to carry 2 cms per hour. Rainfall intensity of more than that will lead to water logging.

Water Board officials informed that 29 emergency response teams have been set up. Safety grills have been set up for 4635 man holes so far. Public are advised to call Dial 100 for any type of grievance relating to monsoon and other emergency. They can even log to myghmc app for redressal of their grievance.