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Time of India
6 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Bathukammakunta Lake restoration nearing completion; Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) revives forgotten water body in Amberpet
HYDERABAD: The restoration of Bathukammakunta in Amberpet is nearing completion with Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) leading the effort to bring the lake back to life after years of neglect. Once spread across 14 acres, the lake significantly shrank over time and was completely dry until late 2024. During a desilting and excavation drive, water was unexpectedly found a few feet below the surface, prompting further work to assess and restore the site, HYDRAA commissioner A V Ranganath has said. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad While progress was temporarily stalled due to a legal dispute over ownership, a court ruling in early 2025 cleared the way for HYDRAA to resume work. The lake bed was deepened, accumulated debris was cleared, and steps were taken to allow natural water recharge. Residents in the area have welcomed the changes, noting the return of water and improved surroundings. For many, the site holds cultural value, especially during the Bathukamma festivities. "We are also working on basic amenities around the lake such as walking paths, greenery, and measures to prevent sewage inflow. We aim to make the lake functional both as a water body and a community space, Ranganath added.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Hyderabad city lake ready for grand Bathukamma fest 2025
HYDERABAD: The 2025 Bathukamma festival is set to be celebrated with increased fervour in Hyderabad this September, as rejuvenation works at Bathukamma Kunta in Bagh Amberpet near completion. For the first time in years, women from surrounding areas will be able to celebrate the nine-day festival at the lake, which had previously been rendered unusable due to encroachments and pollution. HYDRAA, with support from the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), began restoration of the 14.02-acre lake in February this year at an estimated cost of Rs 9.8 crore. Minor works are underway at a brisk pace and are expected to be completed by early September. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is monitoring the progress and has directed officials to ensure timely completion. HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath said that flood management is a key part of the lake restoration. Over one kilometre of the outlet nala, which did not exist earlier, is being restored. This is expected to significantly reduce flooding in surrounding areas. Inlets are also being revived to improve the lake's drainage system.
Hans India
05-07-2025
- General
- Hans India
HYDRAA amps up drive to remove encroachments, clear open nalas
Hyderabad:With the ongoing rainy season, Hyderabad Disaster Management and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) took a decisive measure to prevent stormwater drain overflow in the city. The teams are removing existing obstructions in the drains is crucial to controlling urban flooding. On Friday, the HYDRAA cleared key obstacles to ensure the smooth flow of floodwater in Nallagandla. The work on the canal is expected to accelerate the construction of a 2-kilometer floodwater drainage canal originating from Nallagandla Lake. According to HYDRAA, the canal is being developed under the Strategic Nala Development Programme (SNDP). The works were stalled due to encroachments along the planned route. While some property owners removed unauthorized structures voluntarily, others resisted, delaying the project. With the project at a standstill, only 230 meters of work completed, SNDP officials sought assistance from HYDRAA. At the same time, residents from flood-prone colonies filed complaints, urging immediate action. The problem arose in the HUDA Colony, where part of an apartment boundary wall and other constructions were found on the canal's path. Similar encroachments were reported in other areas as well. On Friday, HYDRAA intervened and removed illegal constructions along the nala, clearing both sides of the canal. This has allowed construction to resume. The canal passes from Nallagandla Lake through Doctors Colony, Rail Vihar, Nallagandla HUDA Colony, Old Serilingampally Village, and Netaji Nagar, and merges with the main nala at BHEL Crossroads. These areas have faced frequent flooding during monsoons due to blocked water flow. Additionally, on Friday, HYDRAA successfully cleared the debris from the blocked drains, culverts, open nalas, and flood canals in various parts of the city. Given the significant amount of waste being dumped into open nalas, the HYDRAA Monsoon Emergency Team (MET) and HYDRAA Disaster Response Force (DRF) teams have prioritized desilting efforts in drains and culverts. Through this initiative, the HYDRAA teams have effectively removed the waste in the flood canals located in Madhuranagar and Krishnanagar within the Yousufguda area. Furthermore, the teams tackled the garbage that had accumulated in the drains of Janardhan Reddy Nagar in Gachibowli. They also cleared the waste from the nala in Markandeya Colony, in Kapra Circle. The silt from the nala stretches from Mantrala Cheruvu to Jillelaguda Cheruvu, near RCI Road and Mithila Nagar in LB Nagar Circle, using JCB machinery. On Thursday, the HYDRAA commissioner AV Ranganath inspected several major drains and flood-prone areas. After witnessing extensive encroachments firsthand, he immediately ordered their removal. The Commissioner stressed that preventing such flooding this year is a collective responsibility.
Hans India
03-07-2025
- Climate
- Hans India
Monsoon preparedness: HYDRAA deploys over 4K personnel in city
Hyderabad: To address monsoon-related problems, the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) has launched an extensive preparedness drive, mobilizing its Monsoon Emergency Teams (METs) with over 4,100 personnel across the city to ensure safety during rainfall. As part of the initiative, HYDRAA has formed 150 METs that will function 24/7, with each team consisting of four members that operate in three shifts, responding to emergencies like waterlogging, tree falls, and minor urban flooding. These teams are strategically positioned in vulnerable zones across Hyderabad to ensure quick and effective response. According to HYDRAA, a total of 734 staff including 368 personnel from Static Teams, have been deployed exclusively for managing rainwater drainage and preventing water stagnation on key roads and low-lying areas. Their work is aimed at keeping traffic flowing and minimizing damage to infrastructure. These teams will work in two shifts. Furthermore, 51 Disaster Response Force (DRF) teams, each with 18 members, will be on the ground to assist with any emergency situation. DRF teams will also operate in two shifts with six members per shift. To ensure quick mobility, 21 Emergency Bike Teams with 42 personnel will be available. In 30 circles under the GHMC limits, 30 marshals have been assigned. In collaboration with the traffic police, 20 teams consisting of 200 personnel will manage traffic flow during the rains. In addition, 240 workers have been placed on standby for tree branch removal and waste management, with three workers per shift. In total, over 4,100 personnel will be involved in ensuring minimal disruption during the monsoon. HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath highlighted the importance of proactive measures. He directed teams to inspect and clear drains and culverts before the rains to ensure smooth water flow. Additionally, teams are tasked with identifying and addressing potential waterlogging spots in advance.
Indian Express
02-07-2025
- Indian Express
‘Rarest of rare': Overheating most likely led to deadly explosion at Telangana factory
The explosion at the Sigachi Industries factory in Pashamylaram in Telangana's Sangareddy district is an unusual case of overheating, say experts who looking into the causes of the blast that killed 36 workers. The company manufactures microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) from wood pulp. The product they manufacture is in powder form and is used in pharmaceutical capsules. 'What could have happened is thermal decomposition of MCC in the spray dryer. That is, MCC powder would have decomposed because of overheating,' A V Ranganath, commissioner, Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Monitoring and Protection Agency (HYDRAA), told The Indian Express. In the dryer, the temperature should have been below 200 degrees Celsius but could have risen above 399 degrees Celsius, Ranganath said. 'It is at 399 degrees Celsius that the powered MCC starts decomposing. We think the temperatures inside the dryer reached this level and went unnoticed,' he said. As earlier reported by The Indian Express, the temperatures could have been controlled had the interlocking system, which cuts off heat at a predetermined level or sets off an alarm, worked. 'In this case, the rise in temperature, which reflects on a monitor in the factory, could have gone unnoticed or unchecked,' Ranganath said. This sort of overheating is a 'rarest of rare case', Ranganath said. 'There is no history, so to speak, of such massive overheating to have happened elsewhere. This was an unfortunate incident,' he said. The extent of the explosion was such that entire portions of the factory collapsed. A case has been registered against the company management under sections of attempt to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, and voluntarily causing grievous hurt. The company has been functioning out of its facility in Pashamylaram for 35 years, the HYDRAA commissioner said. Another expert from the department of factories, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Indian Express, 'The company did have a mechanism to cut off heat because the product would have been compromised had there been no such mechanism. The mechanism is not just for safety but for ensuring the quality of the product.' The number of casualties increased because workers from two shifts were present at the factory on that day, Rangnath said. There were workers from both the general shift and night shift at the factory when the explosion took place. 'They were having a meeting when the explosion happened. This resulted in a higher number of casualties and injuries,' Ranganath said. No arrests have been made in the case so far.
