The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : GHMC begins ‘unfinished’ works

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Friday, Mar 06, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

GHMC begins ‘unfinished’ works

J.S. Ifthekhar

Iron mesh being removed along the nala near Malakpet railway station

Retaining wall being constructed to check inundation of houses in upper reaches
Fencing was done to stop throwing of poultry waste by butchers and hoteliers

— PhotoS: Mohd. Yousuf

solution at last: The iron mesh along the Azampura nala near the Malakpet railway station is being removed by the GHMC for raising a retaining wall to check inundation of houses.

HYDERABAD: The GHMC efforts to raise a retaining wall on the murki nala near the Malakpet railway station is getting stone-walled strangely by the very people who stand to benefit.

Two days ago when the Corporation started removing the iron mesh along the length of the nala it encountered stiff resistance from the locals forcing the authorities to seek police protection.

Kirloskar report

On Thursday, the Corporation took up the unfinished work of removing the fencing from the Azampura bridge to the Malakpet railway station. Many residents, it is said, are unaware of the identity of the persons removing the mesh and stopped the work thinking it to be the handiwork of miscreants.

The retaining wall is being constructed as per the Kirloskar report to check the inundation of houses in the upper reaches.

The project comprises three bits of works costing Rs. 30 lakh each and is expected to be completed within four months.

Flooding

“Once the retaining wall is built the flooding during rainy season will stop”, said Abdul Wahab, assistant engineer, Irrigation and CAD Department.

The iron mesh was put up in 2003 following representation by the New Malakpet Murki Nala Reclamation and Development Society to prevent dumping of poultry waste into the nala.

But even after the fencing was done throwing of poultry waste by butchers and hoteliers continued obstructing the free flow of nala.

“Lot of silt has accumulated in the nala leading to the sewage overflowing on to the road and flooding houses”, says Syed Bandagi Badshah Quadri, secretary of the Society. Meanwhile, the removal of the fencing has come handy for unsocial elements to use the space on the nala bund to indulge in gambling and other such illegal activities, says Z.I. Khan, a resident.

Residents want the authorities to develop a park along the nala once the retaining wall is raised.

It will give an aesthetic look besides stopping the awful smell emanating from the nala.

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