Hyderabad: The State Government is concerned about the safety of people living in urban areas after recent heavy rains caused many colonies in various municipalities to flood. To address these issues, the government plans to introduce an ‘Urban Safety Plan’ soon.
The government has taken the situation seriously, especially the submergence of several colonies. They will investigate the main reasons behind the unsafe living conditions in these municipalities, which were developed by the previous BRS government.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is particularly focused on the damages caused by the floods, especially in Khammam Municipal Corporation, which was severely affected. He has initiated a study to understand why these areas were submerged.
In addition to Khammam, municipalities like Kodad, Huzurnagar, and Suryapet also faced severe flooding due to the overflow of nearby lakes and ponds.
The safety of people living in low-lying areas and slums is a major concern for the government. Officials plan to compile data on the encroachment of lakes, ponds, and other water bodies, as well as buildings constructed in Full Tank Level (FTL) and buffer zones in all municipalities.
This data will include information on the existence of lakes and water bodies before the formation of Telangana state and their current status. The government believes that construction in the catchment areas of lakes and on encroached water bodies is the main cause of the flooding.
Sources indicate that the government faces a big challenge in creating a new ecosystem that can prevent floods in municipal colonies and protect lives and property from damage.
The Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) wing will first prepare a report. This report will be discussed with the Chief Minister, and based on the findings, the government may decide to implement a plan, possibly named HYDRA, in affected districts. This could involve demolishing all illegal structures in FTL and buffer zones to prevent future flooding.
