Hyderabad: Incomplete civic works adding to the rain-induced problems

HYDERABAD: The laidback attitude of the authorities, especially officials from water works, power and municipal wings, and their pathetic approach to redress civic problems stood grossly exposed on Sunday. Even as people were bearing the brunt of heavy rains, a bigger threat came courtesy of works that have been left unfinished midway through. Most water logging problems arose because of this apathy.

The stretch around Kachiguda station suffered major water-logging because of the road that was dug up to construct a water pipeline. The construction work for the pipeline that started on an enthusiastic note a month back remains unfinished. Rain water gets piled up in those pits, causing inconvenience to the commuters and the local residents.

Rakesh, a local resident, said, “The footpath also got dug up in the process. Now we don’t even have space to walk on the road, while the sludge adds to our agony. After a neighbour, oblivious of the danger, fell, we are all apprehensive to even walk on the road. With almost half of the road having been dug in, and water getting piled up, it is a traumatic experience for vehicle users.”

This has been leading to minor traffic jams every five minutes.

A worker at a roadside tiffin centre, Sandeep, fell into the pit while he was trying to throw some trash in the dustbin around 12 pm.

He said, “This has become a major problem for us. It is sad that in our area officials start a project with fervour but never complete it. We have to cross this pit to get to the road. This is the second time I have fallen in it.”

Saleem, who stays on the same road, has to reckon with the water that has stagnated at the entrance of his building.

He says, “They start such works in monsoon, whereas they are supposed to take them up in summers. Even if they start in monsoon, they should complete them soon so that we are not subject to these avoidable problems.”

Meanwhile, the park opposite Sundarayya Bhavan, Baghlingampally, presented a bigger threat. A live wire has been hanging down the huge tree. It was so precarious that the wire was literally touching the water that got piled up on the main road. The threat of electrocution haunted everyone who passed by.