Hyderabad: To tackle recurring urban flooding and improve stormwater management in the western corridor, Cyberabad Municipal Corporation (CMC) has decided to take up a comprehensive stormwater drainage improvement plan for the Ameen Cheruvu catchment, covering nearly 100 square (sq) kilometres (km).Accordingly, the civic body would engage a consultancy to prepare a plan for the Ameen Cheruvu basin, including flood mitigation strategies, detailed project reports (DPRs) for both short-term and long-term interventions, and the creation of a digital database of the drainage network. The consultancy would have to conduct a detailed assessment of the current drainage conditions, identify key problem areas, and propose effective solutions.
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The current drainage setup often fails to manage runoff effectively, resulting in water accumulation that disrupts the daily activities of residents and commuters alike. Frequent waterlogging on major roads and traffic corridors in the CMC jurisdiction has necessitated upgrades to the drainage infrastructure.“Although a stormwater drainage system currently exists within the CMC area, it has become increasingly clear that significant remodelling is necessary. The findings and recommendations from this study will be integrated into the broader comprehensive plan for the CURE area to improve the region’s drainage and flood management systems,” a senior CMC official said.As part of this, the consultant would conduct a detailed study of the current drainage network, identify critical bottlenecks and flood-prone locations, and recommend engineering and nature-based solutions.The short-term improvement plan would focus on immediate interventions such as remodelling culverts, removing drainage bottlenecks, establishing systems to prevent plastic and solid waste from clogging drains, regulating lakes, introducing smart automation for drainage operations, and integrating early warning systems with India Meteorological Department (IMD) rainfall alerts, the official added.The long-term plan proposes major infrastructure and ecological measures to enhance the city’s flood resilience. These include widening existing stormwater drains to carry larger volumes of runoff, constructing new drains in areas lacking adequate infrastructure, increasing the storage capacity of lakes, and developing a network of drains linking water bodies to facilitate efficient stormwater movement, the official said.The consultant would need to incorporate ‘Sponge City’ principles into the drainage strategy by promoting green infrastructure such as permeable pavements, rainwater infiltration systems, green roofs and enhanced urban vegetation to improve groundwater recharge and reduce surface runoff.
