As the monsoon season nears, many in Hyderabad are worried about the city’s readiness for the heavy rains. Past years have shown how quickly the city can flood, yet vital work to prevent this seems to be dragging.
In many neighborhoods, key tasks like cleaning stormwater drains and nalas are still incomplete. Areas such as under the Balanagar flyover and near Shyamlal in Begumpet have piles of removed sludge sitting on the roads. In some places, the cleaning hasn’t even started.
Authorities had earlier ordered safety measures like fencing off open drains and placing warning signs near box drains and stormwater channels. But on the ground, these steps are rarely seen. Many parts of the city remain exposed to serious safety risks.
The state of the roads adds to the concern. Potholes, open manholes, and unfinished repair work make driving and walking risky. Roads dug up for utility work haven’t been restored, and some craters are filled only with loose stones.
“It’s like no one learned anything from the past,” said A. Sunderrami Reddy, a resident of Kukatpally. “We’ve lost lives before because of open manholes. Yet, the same dangers are still here.”
Responding to public concerns, Ratnakar, Chief Engineer of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), said that about 70% of desilting work is done. “The remaining work is already tendered, and we’ll start in the next two to three days,” he said.
Still, with rainfall just around the corner, citizens remain anxious. Many fear that delays and poor planning could once again turn Hyderabad’s streets into a flooded mess.
