HYDERABAD: After days of flooding that resulted from high-intensity short spells of rains recently, GHMC on Saturday took up a special drive to remove critical man-made bottlenecks on the nalas and storm water drains to free the city from flooding situation in the future. A total of 60 structures were demolished on Saturday in Chandrayangutta, Charminar and Falaknuma Circles in South Zone, Amberpet Circle in Central Zone, Serilingampally, Moosapet and Kukatpally Circles in West Zone, Alwal and Malkajgiri Circles in North Zone.
The structures that were demolished were along Murki Nala at Uppuguda and Shivaji Nagar, Zohra Bee Dargah Nala, Al-Jubail Colony in South Zone. Structures along Mohini Cheruvu at Bapu Nagar, Amberpet in Central Zone, structures along Serilingampally, Nalla Cheruvu, Prashanth Nagar Nala and Rajeev Nagar at Kukatpally in West Zone, structures at MES Colony, Venkatapuram, Alwal and NMDC Colony, Malkajgiri in North Zone.
The demolition drive was taken after the state government issued necessary orders on Friday regarding payment of ex garatia, compensation to the structures existing in the objectionable encroachments on nalas, shikam lands, graveyards and GVM road.GHMC Chief City Planner (CCP), S Devender Reddy told Express that demolition of critical bottlenecks would continue for next one week.
For the remaining circles, structural valuation of the property is being taken up and after their finalisation checks would be issued to them. By December end, all the crtitical bottlenecks on the nalas would be removed and widening of nalas would be completed by summer next year. GHMC has identified as many as 766 critical bottlenecks that have come up along the nalas obstructing the free flow of water leading inundations in about 17 circles. In fact, the main reason for flooding of the city during the recent heavy rains, is that concrete structures have eaten into the lakes and storm water drains in city.
After removing the encroachments, GHMC has readied itself to widen the nalas by raising the boundary walls to protect the nalas from encroachments by paying structural compensation for all properties of whether it is falling on private land, GVM, government, ULC, WAQF or endownments. Of the 47 works, tenders for about 23 works have been finalised and works would be taken up shortly.
Land compensation for private parties as per the act, in respect of gramakantam, exgratia would be payable equal to the bais value of land. There will be no exgratia or compensation to the government, GVM, ULC and nala lands.
Wherever structures belonging to people assessed Below Poverty Line / Slums are removed, necessary steps will be taken to rehabilitate them under JNNURM vacant housing, said Devender Reddy. The city used to have network of lakes to allow surplus water from one lake to move into the next one and eventually flow into the Musi River. Earlier, this arrangement not only kept the city free from flooding during heavy rains, but saved it from going dry during summer. But, this cascading system has been disrupted over the past many years as concrete structures have eaten into water bodies along this network.
Why was demolition drive taken up?
The demolition drive was taken after the state government issued necessary orders on Friday regarding payment of ex garatia, compensation to the structures existing in the objectionable encroachments on nalas, shikam lands, graveyards, GVM road