Hyderabad: KT Rama Rao, the working president of the BRS party, stated on Monday that the Strategic Nala Development Programme (SNDP) has been crucial in preventing major flooding in Hyderabad despite the heavy rains over the past few days.
Rama Rao explained that the SNDP, a significant initiative started by then Chief Minister KCR, provided a long-term solution to Hyderabad’s recurring flooding problems. Even with continuous rain, areas that typically flood did not experience the usual waterlogging. KTR credited the SNDP for this success and mentioned that residents of these areas have acknowledged the program’s effectiveness in protecting them from flooding. He also thanked everyone involved in implementing the SNDP.
In the past, when Telangana was part of the undivided state, heavy rains often led to flooding in Hyderabad’s low-lying areas, severely affecting the lives of poor and middle-class residents. The KCR government recognized this as a serious issue and developed the SNDP as a comprehensive solution, according to KTR. The State government carried out 60 major works under the SNDP, investing Rs 985 crore to improve the city’s stormwater and sewage systems. This proactive approach helped Hyderabad avoid a flood crisis, even without financial support from the Central government.
KTR also highlighted that the SNDP included the rapid improvement of 36 key nalas (drainage channels) which used to overflow with even slight rainfall. The recent heavy rains did not cause waterlogging in these areas, proving the program’s success as confirmed by local residents. Previously, the stormwater and sewage systems under the older Greater Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad were in poor condition, leading to a chaotic situation where the two systems often merged. The SNDP addressed this issue by restoring old nalas and constructing new ones quickly and effectively.
