Heavy Inflows at Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar Cause Concern for Musi River Residents
With heavy inflows into Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar, there is a possibility that the gates of these reservoirs may be opened soon. This has caused anxiety among residents living along the Musi River in Hyderabad. Local authorities have started to alert these residents, and in some areas, they have urged people to evacuate as a precaution.
Officials from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and other related departments have been closely monitoring the situation. By evening, they began taking necessary precautionary measures. “As a precaution, GHMC has informed residents to vacate flood-affected houses in Hyder Enclave if the gates of Himayat Sagar are opened, leading to water flowing into the Musi River. Engineering teams are at these houses and are providing updates as a safety measure,” stated K Ravi Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Rajendra Nagar Circle.
If the gates are opened, the water from Himayat Sagar will flow into the Musi River, affecting areas such as Sun City, Langar Houz, Attapur, Jiyaguda, Darulshifa, Malakpet, Amberpet, and Moosarambagh. Observers have noted that if the gates are opened, especially the slum areas along the riverbanks from Jiyaguda to Moosarambagh could be at risk.
“I hope these gates are not opened this time,” said Syed Bilal, city vice president of Human Rights Forum. He expressed concern that construction activities along the lower riparian of the river could choke the river, causing flooding on the banks. Bilal emphasized the need for authorities to assess the situation carefully to prevent any loss of life and property. He also mentioned that the government’s HYDRA initiative should have cleared properties in the catchment area of the twin reservoirs to prevent flooding.
In July 2023, authorities continuously released water from both Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar for almost a week as the water levels rose. During that time, residents, especially in the Malakpet area, were forced to move to higher ground. During a visit by former Minister K T Rama Rao, residents questioned the spending on Musi Riverfront Development projects. “The huge amounts of funds spent on Musi have been of no use to those living on the river’s banks for decades,” lamented Bilal.
