GHMC braces for monsoon challenge

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has imposed a ban on all types of advertisement hoardings in the city from June 15 to August 15. This apart, officials have identified 195 areas that are prone to inundation. Measures are being taken up to ensure free flow of water in drains in these areas. All manholes and catchpits will be inspected again and cleared off sludge and trash.

These decisions were taken during a meeting on the measures to be taken for effective relief and rescue operations this monsoon season involving different departments. GHMC Commissioner M Dana Kishore, HMRL MD NVS Reddy and senior officials from different departments participated in the meeting.

Dana Kishore stressed the need for more coordination among departments to avoid any inconvenience to citizens, besides taking up relief measures effectively. There are about 300 disaster management teams and all the officials would have to work in



coordination, he said.

NVS Reddy, stating that there were 95 advertisement hoardings along Metro routes where flexis were prone to fall on the overhead power cables and disrupt the services, said these had to be relocated.

In response, GHMC Additional Commissioner Advaith Kumar Singh said a ban was already imposed on hoardings along Metro routes and agencies had been directed to relocate the hoardings. However, flexies were being put up unauthorisedly at a few locations, he said. Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Anil Kumar said there was a need to take up road repair works at 150 locations in the Hyderabad Commissionerate limits. This apart, rain water was falling from Metro viaducts causing lot of inconvenience to road users, he said.

The GHMC Commissioner said stern action would be initiated on agencies that fail to complete road restoration works within a week.