Flood funds go down the drain

Model House at Punjagutta, the RTA office in Khairatabad, the Chief Minister’s camp house, Bible House and 70 other places are critical water stagnation points in the city.

Funds are allocated every year to drain out water after a flash downpour but it is all literally water down the drain as the problem persists. This suits civil contractors only too well, being an annual cash cow.

Stagnation points are those where large amounts of rain water accumulate due to the absence of drains or because existing drains are clogged or encroached upon, impeding the free flow of water or where roads are situated in low-lying areas.

The GHMC has categorised the water stagnation areas as critical, major, and minor. There are 12 critical spots, such as opposite NIMS Hospital, and Oliphanta Bridge in Secunderabad. So much water accumulates in these areas that traffic can be thrown out of gear for hours.

Rain water also accumulates when a road is situated in a low-lying area, as for instance near Raj Bhavan. The BT road cannot be raised, as the water will flood adjacent areas.

Ms Hari Chandana Dasari, GHMC central zone commissioner, said encroachment of nalas was a prime cause of flooding as they block the natural flow of rainfall water, which begins to accumulate on the roads.

Every year a budget of `5 lakh to `10 lakh is kept aside to unclog blockages and let the water drain out.