Civic body easy on nala squatters

Hyderabad: Due to GHMC’s apathy, the city’s the nalas are full of encroachments, and the situation is getting worse. The the nalas, which were built exclusively to discharge rain water, have become sewerage drains.

“We regularly take up desilting of the the nalas , including the big ones (Murki 1 and 2, Kukatpally and Balkampur) as well as the 11 secondary the nalas with a total length of 30-km covering Banjara Hills, Punjagutta, Erramanzil Colony, etc.” said Anjaneyulu, the chief engineer of GHMC.

Realtors have built multi-storied buildings beside the the nalas. These buildings have been built in direct violation of the town-planning laws and the GHMC is either unaware or part of the nexus.

The big nala at Ashoknagar and others at Yakutpura and Dabirpura are flanked by encroachments and don’t have proper walls. Though funds were sanction-ed, the work has been stalled as many people residing in the encroached shanties refuse to move.

“We try to convince people. Those who have settled in the areas are difficult to deal with, though we give compensation to whoever is willing to move,” said chief engineer Dhan Singh.

On the other hand, there are problems that the residents are facing and the civic body does not re-spond to the compla-ints. Near Banjara Hills, in Udaynagar Co-lony, there have been cases of children falling in the 5-6 feet deep nala while playing.

Though the amount to cover the nala was sanctioned about four years ago, the work started only two months ago. Residents, however, say that only 50 per cent of the work has being completed that too hastily. Bala Subramanian, commissioner, South Zone. said, “Despite acquisiton problems we are on the job.”