excess rains,excess rain in telangana, Hyderabad rains
Ravi Seshu
Even as there is no sign of any let up in the incessant rains in Hyderabad, Telangana government on Saturday announced that the city has already received 448 percent excess rain than usual rainfall in the month of August. Hyderabad experienced rain of this severity for the first time after 1908, it declared.
“Generally in the month of August, Hyderabad would receive 84 mm of rainfall but this year we got 462 mm so far, 448 percent more than the usual rainfall. Despite this, there is no serious damage in the city,” Chief Minister K.Chandrasekhar Rao said after a review with top officials.
He appealed to the media to be responsible and not to exaggerate rain related issues. “We are responsible people. It is not wise to spoil the image of the State and the city. Don’t panic people with exaggerated versions,” he said adding that inconvenience would be naturally caused when a cloud burst of this severity takes place. Rs.200-300 crore will be released to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to repair the damaged roads in Hyderabad.
Touching upon the crucial issue of illegal constructions on the riverbeds, KCR made it clear that such constructions would be demolished at any cost. He revealed that as many as 28,000 illegal constructions were identified on the nalas of Musi. He also maintained that officials could save the loss of lives by demolishing 400 old constructions in the city. Four army troupes have been pressed into service to help the people suffering in low-lying flood-affected areas.
The Chief Minster said that drought condition wouldn’t touch Telangana in the next couple of years. Mission Kakatiya, the ambitious programme of the government to restore the tanks in villages, will prove to be highly useful, he claimed.
An official statement issued by the CM’s office said that a 60-member National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team has been kept on the standby in the city for necessary rescue operations. “Army personnel are also available as and when requested,” it said.
Meanwhile, the State government announced high alert in Karimnagar, Adilabad and Nizamabad and the State capital is expected to experience rains in the coming five days.
