The Hindu 26.07.2012
Comprehensive sewerage network need of the hour
Encroachment of water bodies, inadequate stormwater drain capacity lead to flooding in low-lying areas during the recent rain
It is not enough to widen stormwater drains (‘nalas’) by
removing encroachments to prevent large scale inundation during heavy
rains. The issue of illegal occupation of tank beds and ensuring a
comprehensive sewerage network for the entire city is as much vital, say
senior officials.
While last Friday’s rain havoc has
not only showcased the inadequate stormwater drain capacity leading to
flooding in several low lying areas (26), 43 colonies coming under the
Full Tank Level (FTL) of 17 water bodies too face inundation.
Massive dislocation
Due
to undulating terrain of the twin cities, excess rain water drains off
due to gravity usually. Yet, with rapid urbanisation, disappearance of
tanks, low absorbing capacity of the ground and lack of separate sewer
lines is leading to massive dislocation, they explain.
“We
should stop gloating about underground drainage in the core city
because sewer lines have been directly linked to stormwater drains
everywhere indiscriminately. Suburbs do not have any underground sewage
network save for a few parts of Serilingampally and Kukatpally,” they
aver.
A glaring example of ills of not having proper
sewer network in the suburbs where the population has doubled in the
last decade is pollution of water bodies due to sewage flow. The
colonies sewer lines in these places are linked to the tanks and with
constant sewage flow, they cannot take any fresh inflows during a rain.
With
houses very much built within the FTL, inundations happen. While
constructions on the lake beds are clearly unauthorised as in Nadeem
Colony; there are also sites where the layout has official sanction such
as Nector Gardens abutting Durgam Cheruvu, from the erstwhile Hyderabad
Urban Development Authority (HUDA).
This
intermingling of sewer lines with stormwater pipelines and open drains
becomes evident considering the rapid flow of water after a rain. “The
continuous flow inside stormwater drains even during dry weather is
indication of the lack of will or insufficient funds leading to quick
fixes such as connecting sewer lines,” they say.
Bad roads
It
not only causes flooding during the monsoon but damages roads too.
Continuous flow of water even on some of the main thoroughfares as in
Punjagutta due to leaks from overflowing drains spoils the road surface
needing recarpetting every year at considerable cost.
“A
multi-pronged strategy is needed to tackle flooding during a heavy
rainfall. It should begin with demolishing at least some of the
constructions that have come up on the lake beds, protecting the FTLs by
fencing, laying extensive underground sewage and remodelling storm
water drains,” senior officials affirm.
A Rs.2, 000
crore plan has been made for a new sewage network but has been hanging
fire for want of funds. Its time for the government to take it up before
another deluge hits us.