Hyderabad: When heavy rain hits, thousands of families in low-lying areas face serious problems. Encroachments on nalas and poor drainage systems cause chaos in the city. Recently, heavy rains flooded homes and left residents stuck for hours. Despite warnings from experts and citizen groups, authorities have not solved the main problem of illegal structures blocking stormwater drains and lakes.
Satellite images and ground surveys show nalas shrinking into narrow streams due to illegal buildings and garbage. Without proper outlets, rainwater floods roads and homes, turning areas into ponds. Residents say only temporary fixes are made instead of permanent solutions.
Late Saturday night, many families found water entering their homes, damaging valuables and leaving debris. Experts insist that unless encroachments are removed, regular desilting is done, and retaining walls are built, floods will keep happening. Citizens demand accountability from officials ignoring illegal constructions. The civic administration admits finding about 1,500 encroachments on major nalas, but removal is slow due to legal and public challenges.
Officials are planning to widen key drains, but lack of funds is causing delays. Residents feel frustrated as money is spent on flyovers and beautification projects, while basic flood prevention is ignored. Traffic jams, power cuts, and health risks from stagnant water add to their troubles.
