The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : No plugging this overflow

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Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

No plugging this overflow

Staff Reporter

Residents near Somajiguda junction facing tough time

Channel’s efforts to drain out excess water to no avail
Residents upset over wastage, official apathy

— PHOTO: NAGARA GOPAL.

Civic sense! : Wet, dirty roads greet pedestrians in the centre of the busy Somajiguda area in the city.

HYDERABAD: In what appears to be a clear case of official apathy, residents of the lane adjoining Kirtilals showroom near Somajiguda junction are subject to water woes each and everyday.

Water flows out from cellars of commercial complexes located on the Greenlands-Panjagutta stretch and floods the street daily, say residents. “No matter what time of the day it is, the street is always clogged with water,” says V. Adi Narayana Reddy, who lives in the same street.

Despite several complaints by residents to authorities concerned, nothing concrete has emerged. “There has been no respite in outflow even after visits by several officials from the GHMC. Talks with building owners were held but there has been no improvement in the situation,” says Mr. Reddy.

Stagnation

A few days ago, GHMC dug a small channel to drain out excess water. Yet, water floods the street all day. Owing to continuous stagnating of water, the surface layer of the road has eroded completely leading to creation of huge potholes. A new road that was to come up along this stretch was given a go-by because continuous flooding made it impossible to lay a new road. As a result, motorists have a tough time negotiating this stretch. Pedestrians have no choice but to step into clogged-water. “During rainy season our problem aggravates,” says Ranganathan, who runs a shop nearby.

Officials have turned a Nelson’s eye to several requests, Mr. Reddy says. At a time when water wars are being waged by States and the government going pitching in to quench the growing water needs of the city, here is water so recklessly wasted, thanks to official inaction.

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