The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) has reviewed plans to remove encroachments and clear silt and debris from the Kukatpally Nala in Balanagar and Fatehnagar, where officials said the stormwater drain has narrowed from 40 metres to nine metres in several industrial-area stretches.
HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath chaired the review meeting with officials from the Cyberabad and Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation (MMC) and representatives of industrial cooperative societies, according to a report by Deccan Chronicle. The meeting focused on cleaning the nala and removing structures raised along its drainage line.
The Kukatpally Nala carries stormwater from Pariki Cheruvu and IDL lakes, as well as flows from Foxsagar, before moving towards Hussainsagar. Officials said removing accumulated silt and debris and restoring the drain’s width were important to restrict flooding in the surrounding industrial areas.
The reported narrowing of the channel highlights the operational problem facing a stormwater system that receives flows from several water bodies. In areas where the drain has been reduced to a fraction of its stated width, the available passage for stormwater is limited. The report did not provide details of the individual encroachments, the number of structures affected or a confirmed schedule for their removal.
Officials said about 2.2 kilometres of the drain in the industrial area falls under CMC limits, while another two kilometres falls under MMC limits. The report identified the involvement of multiple civic jurisdictions as part of the review, but did not specify the precise division of responsibilities for demolition, debris removal, desilting or subsequent maintenance.
Representatives of the industrial cooperative societies said they would cooperate with the authorities in clearing the encroachments. They also asked officials to begin work in areas considered extremely flood-prone and to pursue a permanent solution to the recurring problem.
The review places the Kukatpally Nala within a wider municipal challenge: maintaining continuous stormwater channels that cross administrative boundaries and receive runoff from lakes, industrial land and built-up areas. The immediate measures discussed were the removal of encroachments, desilting and debris clearance. Further action will depend on the authorities’ implementation plans and coordination across the agencies identified in the review.
