GHMC pays for plants washed away in ’20 floods

Officials claimed damage to plants in floods minimal, paid `1.68 lakh every month

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) authorities were paying to maintain saplings washed away in the October 2020 floods. Officials claimed the damage to plants in floods was minimal and they were unaware of payments by the civic body for maintenance charges.

The development on the banks of Musi was done citing major devastation during the flash floods. Engineers after checking the water spread area and velocity of the flow, had constructed pavements, cycling tracks and other infrastructure in such a way that the water flow would not disturb the structures.

However, the heavy rainfall in September 2021 coupled with about 23,000 cusecs of outflow from Himayathsagar and 12,000 cusecs of water from Osmansagar had cut the soil beneath pavements and other development at Nagole on the banks of Musi. It eventually damaged about 4 km of footpaths, cycling tracks, landscapes and other infrastructure which was developed at the cost of `9 crore bringing the project to square one.

Surprisingly, even though 80 per cent of the developmental works including vertical gardens and other plants coming in the way were washed during the back-to-back floods in 2020 and 2021, the Urban Bio-diversity (UBD) officials were paying `1.68 lakh per month over two years to maintain the vertical garden at the Nagole bridge. Sources said that the UBD wing, hand-inglove with the contractors, were indulging in similar irregularities at several locations where they claimed bills for unkempt vertical gardens that are about 70 across the city.

When asked about the same, a senior GHMC official, on condition of anonymity said that it was only minimal damage and nothing was washed away.

He said continuous highintensity flow from Musi has cut through the soil beneath the pavements disturbing the tiles. Without disclosing the extent of damage, he said GHMC teams were working to restore the damaged portion since last week and will continue till it is restored. Regarding claiming bills, the official refused to comment.