HYDERABAD: It’s almost a year since the fearsome floods of October 2020 created havoc in Osman Nagar area on the outskirts of Old City. As the monsoon is expected to intensify in the coming weeks, residents say that they are yet to recover from the impact which was created by last year’s deluge.
Many families slammed elected representatives and government authorities for inaction since the past one year.
A 60-year-old resident of Osman Nagar, Syed Waheed Rahman said, “After our house was flooded with nearly 10 feet of rainwater last year, we were forced to leave and look for a rented place near Pahadi Shareef. For about four months, I used to travel 5 to 6 km to check on my submerged house and see if the water level has receded. The situation is no different this year. The water from nearby Osman Nagar lake gushed into our house just after two spells of rain last week.”
Even today, Rahman and his family members have no other way but to wade through the slush and sewage water that is still accumulated in front of his house whose foundations are gradually deteriorating because of the inundation.
As the monsoon keeps them on tenterhooks, many say that they are having sleepless nights as the water levels of Osman Nagar lake rise with each spell of rain.
“We are having sleepless nights as the water levels of Osman Nagar lake have started to rise again. After education minister Sabita Indira Reddy recently inspected the area, the officials of Jalpally municipality have begun the reconstruction works of Osman Nagar Lake bund but it is of no use as it has already started developing cracks and is getting washed away due to rains. We need a permanent solution,” said Afreen Begum, a resident of Osman Nagar.
The open area right in front of Afreen’s house is completely covered with algal weeds and has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Residents also claim that the outlet channels which have been closed to protect nearby colony from getting flooded is one of the reasons for flooding last year.
According to the officials from the municipality, the bund which stretches across one km and is about 12 feet wide is being constructed to protect the flood water from protecting the houses.
Agreeing that several houses are still suffering the impact of last year’s floods, G Praveen Kumar, commissioner, Jalpally municipality said, “A lot of houses are still affected because they are constructed in lake FTL (full tank level) area and we cannot do anything about it because the case is still pending in high court.”
However, the commissioner informed that they are taking all precautionary measures to face the upcoming monsoon issues which include construction of manuals for drains, clearing of inlets and outlets and construction of a bund on the left side of Osman Nagar lake, which stretches across one km and is about 12 feet wide, to protect the flood water from entering the houses in the area.
The municipality is reconstructing the damaged bund with a special fund of Rs 20 lakh sanctioned by the district collector Rangareddy on the representation of minister Sabitha Indra Reddy.
