The Hindu 30.06.2010
GHMC launches stormwater drain works
Special Correspondent
- Photo: Mohd.Yousuf 
At workGHMC officials launch a demolition drive on ‘nala' encroachments in Anjaiah Nagar, Bowenpally.
HYDERABAD: After a considerable gap, GHMC has begun stormwater drain widening work on Tuesday. Six encroachments on the Picket nala have been removed of the 37 structures obstructing the free flow of water.
Changing its usual tack of taking up works only in clear areas on small reaches, officials have begun work on a package system where a particular reach is kept free of encroachments before remodelling works are taken up.
New houses will be allotted to those losing their structures entirely in the second phase of housing programme while structural compensation is being paid for partially affected structures, said Additional Commissioner (Planning & Projects) K. Dhananjaya Reddy.
Kukatpally nala repairs are also be undertaken soon where there are 97 encroachments. Nagamaiahkunta, Kalasiguda and other stormwater stretches too are proposed to be improved in the coming days. Otherwise, progress of stormwater drain repairs or ‘nala' remodelling has been tardy despite bountiful funds coming from the Centre under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). Way back in September 2006 itself, Rs. 142.37 crore was sanctioned.
Yet of the 31.27 km stretch of repairs proposed on the Murki, Kukatpally and Balkapur drains from the amount, work on just 10.47 km was done spending Rs. 51.55 crore.
In the second JNNURM package received last year for Rs. 124.10 crore, repair works have been proposed on Yousufguda, Punjagutta, Erramanzil, Yellareddyguda, Banjara Hills, Picket, Indira Park, Gandhinagar, Dandu Mansion, Kalasiguda and Nagamaiahkunta storm water drains stretching to 47.84 km. While some tender packages have been finalised others are awaiting approvals.
