This story is from September 13, 2022

Deluged but not Bangalored, Hyderabad blueprint to cut flooding

Environment and climate change experts have hammered out a blueprint for Hyderabad to avoid a Bengaluru-like flood crisis in the event of a deluge.
Deluged but not Bangalored, Hyderabad blueprint to cut flooding
Heavy downpour lashed several parts of the state
HYDERABAD: Environment and climate change experts have hammered out a blueprint for Hyderabad to avoid a Bengaluru-like flood crisis in the event of a deluge.
The key mechanisms of water management entail constructing interlinking channels, preventing waterlogging and isolating sewage conduits from the drainage network.
"First, we must protect our lakes and ponds," Anjal Prakash, research director and adjunct associate professor at Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business, told TOI.
GHMC has painstakingly mapped water bodies in the area and linkages between lakes must be restored to avoid floods, he added.
In some cases, a minor reconstruction is required to restore linkages, while in others, concrete encroachments on feeder channels need to be razed.
"GHMC has a strategic nala development programme that is studying lake linkages, and this could be prioritized with a special focus programme," said Prakash.
He observed that some Hyderabad areas are flood-prone and must be clinically mapped.
"A special rainwater harvesting initiative could be devised to ensure water drains out from these areas into nearby lakes. These efforts may necessitate construction of concrete structures and underground pipes to clear waterlogging," he said.

Prakash said, there's much work to be done to separate storm-water drainage from sewerage network, and that must be the priority. As climate models predict heavy rains in future, the infrastructure must be designed to withstand 200-250mm of rainfall in 24 hours.
Fourth, similar to Harita Haram programme, a special drive is required to build at least 50lakh RWH structures, which will not only save the city from floods, but also replenish its groundwater. "Also, climate change data should be downscaled to Hyderabad's level for micromanagement," he said.
A short, medium and long-term adaptation plan could be developed so that city is not affected by extreme events and remains the top investment destination. Bengaluru and Hyderabad are similar in many ways. And Hyderabad is expanding rapidly.
However, the government focus on improving city's civic infrastructure has helped avert a Bengaluru-like situation, where traffic crawls and roads cave in.
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