A whopping Rs. 6,900 crore would be the budgetary requirement for removal of an estimated 16,000 encroachments and unauthorised constructions that have come up on the network of ‘nalas’ or storm water drains in the city.
The committee of elected representatives constituted for GHMC had concluded that the network of 74 main nalas and drains running a length of 390 km was badly encroached upon leading to water stagnation in different parts of the city during rains.
In its recommendations submitted to the Chief Minister, K. Chandrasekhar Rao, on Tuesday, the committee suggested removal of these encroachments, protecting of ‘nalas’ by building retaining walls, acquiring land required for expansion of these channels, paying compensation for properties removed and changing pipelines, steps that would require Rs. 6,900 crore. The short-term recommendations of the committee included rehabilitation of poor families who have built houses on ‘nalas’ and creating a land acquisition unit under special deputy collector for development of nalas. To start with, the committee stressed on the need for doing away with 1,152 unauthorised constructions along the nalas that would cost Rs. 223 crore and addressing 1,928 encroachments covering 47-km nala length at an estimated cost of Rs. 376 crore in the second phase. As a long-term measure, the rest of 260-km nala length should be covered and 12,920 encroachments removed at a cost of Rs. 2,080 crore, said a press release. The Chief Minister told the committee that the recommendations would be studied and appropriate steps would be initiated.
GHMC committee submits its recommendations to Chief Minister
