Hyderabad: Civil society groups have urged MA & UD Minister KT Rama Rao to declare a ‘flood-proof policy’ for Hyderabad due to inundation and sewage overflow in parts of the city after recent rains. In a letter addressed to the minister on July 29, various voluntary organizations also requested the creation of an ‘Urban Watershed Authority’ to study and find a solution.
The letter was signed by Rama Melkote (retired professor of Osmania University), Kiran Vissa (RythuSwarajya Vedika), SQ Masood (Association for Socio-economic Betterment of Marginalized), JasveenJairath, A Suneetha (independent researchers), Deepti (social activist), Khalida Parveen (Amoomat Society), and many others. They asked KTR to promote the use of ‘permeable material’ for cellar spaces and basements, as it would help reduce surface runoff and improve the condition of shallow aquifers, which are essential for meeting Hyderabad’s water requirements.
The activists also highlighted the issues faced by people living on the banks of Musi River and urged KTR to initiate ‘Musi river works’ in collaboration with local communities. They emphasized that even small inundations lead to faecal sludge entering slums, posing a serious public health risk, especially to dalits and poor Muslims. The voluntary organizations associated with the National Alliance of People’s Movements (Telangana) suggested implementing decentralized solutions to address the problem.
Furthermore, the representatives of these organizations questioned the arbitrary detention of an activist, Syed Bilal, by the Malakpet police on July 28 when KTR visited the area to assess the flood situation. They pointed out that Bilal was trying to draw attention to the recent budget allocation of Rs 16,635 crore for the Musi Riverfront Development Corporation, which includes funds for roads, sewage treatment plants, and river rejuvenation.
The civil society groups are urging KTR to take immediate action to address the flooding and sewage overflow issues in Hyderabad and implement measures to prevent future occurrences.
