Massive anti-encroachment drive to be launched in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Sep 24 (IANS) The Telangana government has decided to act tough and clear all encroachments on 'nalas' or storm water drains to prevent flooding in Hyderabad.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Saturday announced that a drive against encroachments on analas' or other places will be launched once the rains recede.

He told reporters after a review meeting that 25 flying squads will be constituted to clear 28,000 encroachments on 'nalas' as they were obstructing the flow of storm water, leading to flooding of roads and residential areas even during light or moderate rains.

The chief minister made it clear that the government will go ahead with the drive and interference of any minister, lawmaker or any other politician will not be tolerated.

Alleging that previous governments allowed the encroachments on drains and in lakes, he sought cooperation from people, all political parties and media. If poor had encroached 'nalas' and built houses, they will be provided houses under double bed-room house scheme of the government, he said.

KCR, as the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief is popularly known, also announced that the government will give reward of Rs 10,000 to citizens giving information about encroachments. "Their names will be kept a secret," he said.

Blaming the policies and unscientific approach of the successive governments over last six decades for the civic problems in Hyderabad, KCR said the government was determined to improve the situation.

He, however, said it would take five to six years for complete modernisation of storm water and sewerage systems in the city.

The government will arrange Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 crore loan for Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to make Hyderabad a world-class city.

Claiming that the government managed the situation well despite unprecedented rains in Hyderabad, he said there was no loss of life.

KCR said the rainfall in Hyderabad during the current month was the highest since 1908. "There was excess rainfall of 448 percent in the city during September," he said.

The chief minister said only 10 percent of roads in the city were damaged during the rains. The GHMC will launch efforts on war-scale for repair of the roads once the rains recede, he added.