Robotic tech to clear waterlogging in Hyderabad
HYDERABAD: As Hyderabad prepares for another monsoon season, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is set to deploy jetting-cum-suction machines and utilise robotic technology equipped with cameras to identify blockages in stormwater drains (SWDs). These efforts aim to tackle water-logging on main roads by efficiently cleaning both solid and liquid silt from the city's drainage system.
Currently, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) is using this mechanism to clean overflowing sewer pipelines by removing silt and other solid waste materials that obstruct the flow and cause sewage to spill onto roads.
The civic body has identified over 140 to 145 critical waterlogging points across the city.
To combat waterlogging and flooding at frequently inundated locations, the GHMC has proposed the deployment of specialised machines designed to quickly remove water from affected areas and clean drains during the dry season. Initially, this initiative will be implemented in the Khairatabad zone, covering Jubilee Hills, Mehdipatnam, Goshamahal, Khairatabad, and Karwan.
Jetting-cum-suction machines combined with robotic technology equipped with cameras offer a comprehensive solution for cleaning stormwater drains. These machines use high-pressure water to dislodge blockages and suction to remove debris, while the robotic systems help identify bottlenecks and assess the condition of the stormwater drainage network.
The civic body hopes that mechanical cleaning of the drains will significantly reduce waterlogging issues in the city.
In this regard, the GHMC has invited Expressions of Interest (EoI) cum Requests for Proposals (RfP) from agencies to provide stormwater drain silt-cleaning services using advanced technology in the Khairatabad Zone.
GHMC officials emphasised that frequent inundation poses a significant threat to public safety, property, and overall urban infrastructure. This underscores the urgent need for implementing a robust and innovative stormwater drainage system.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
4 days ago
- Hans India
Pre-monsoon works face hiccups as water logging grips parts of city
Hyderabad: With the onset of monsoon, the city is witnessing heavy water logging, thanks to the incomplete pre-monsoon preparations. The residents alleged that officials had ignored the seriousness of water logging and had taken no step to prevent the water inundation in localities. Despite repeated warnings and past experiences of flooding of various areas across the city, the monsoon related work appears to be moving at a slow pace. There was no proper desilting of manholes, storm water drains, and nalas which can prevent water logging. In several areas, there was no desilting and if completed following the heavy rains, heaps of desilted mud remained uncleared from the roads. Though the civic body has taken measures to ensure that no rainwater to be inundated, it has been observed that the roads were blocked due to water logging. According to activists, the status of monsoon-related works including desilting and works under the Telangana government's Strategic Nala Development Program (SNDP) in GHMC limits is still underway and nowhere near completion, despite passing the deadline. 'A brief 15-minute downpour is leaving parts of main roads in knee-deep water, which exposed the unpreparedness for the monsoon season,' said Mohammed Ahmed, an activist. Activists said that construction activities must cease during the season. However, the works are continuing in different parts of the city, posing risks to drivers during heavy rainfall, as the entire stretch where the works are going on are dug up, and filled with potholes. Venkat Rao a resident of Surya Nagar colony in Shaikpet said, 'During heavy rainfall, numerous internal roads within our locality see severe water logging, with water levels rising up to the knees. It is a challenge for us in accessing the main road. In these flooded streets, we found ourselves stranded in the middle of a submerged road, unable to proceed further in our vehicles.' During rains, various areas in the city are witnessing water logging including the worst affected colonies in Tolichowki, Attapur, LB Nagar, Uppal, Begumpet, Kukatpally, Miyapur, Banjara Hills, Jubilee Hills, Vanasthalipuram, Hayath Nagar, Somajiguda, Ameerpet, Nampally, among others. These areas have been witnessing massive flooding during rains. Also, several localities in the Old City like Talabkatta, Tadbun, Yakutpura, Dabeerpura, Darulshifa, Bahadurpura and Old Malakpet. Moreover, the GHMC identified over 141 locations that are affected by water logging and measures were taken to address the issue permanently.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
Monsoon hits Telangana, but desilting of 300 km stormwater network is yet to be completed
Hyderabad: Though the monsoon hit the state three days ago, nearly 300 km of the stormwater network is yet to be desilted by Greater Hyderabad civic officials. The accumulated waste in these drains poses a risk of flooding abutting areas, if not cleared to allow free flow of stormwater. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Incidentally, these details emerged hours after a 40-year-old fell and drowned in an open nala in Suraram on Tuesday night, According to data from Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), of the total network of 951 km of stormwater drains and nalas, only 651 km have been desilted, while work was on for the remaining 300 km. The civic body has allocated Rs 50 crore for this year's desilting activities. The intermittent rain over the past three days has complicated the desilting operations, as waste and silt continue to accumulate and block stormwater drains, leading to waterlogging and flooding on roads. Several Metros, including Mumbai and Bengaluru, were already experiencing flooding in the first few days of the monsoon. Among the six zones in Greater Hyderabad, the Khairatabad zone, covering the central parts of the city, lags significantly with only 54% of desilting work completed thus far. This situation has necessitated the Khairatabad zone to invite expressions of interest for providing stormwater drains (solid and liquid) cleaning services by using jetting and suction mechanisms and detecting bottlenecks using robotic technology fitted with cameras to eliminate waterlogging points on main roads. According to GHMC officials, the early onset of the monsoon has disrupted the desilting operations. 'We initiated the cleaning of nalas and stormwater drains in April, with plans to wrap it up by the first week of June, anticipating the monsoon's arrival around June 10. While manual labour is being utilised for clearing stormwater drains, earthmovers and jetting machines have been deployed at nalas. However, efforts are underway to complete the remaining works within the next 10 to 15 days,' a senior GHMC engineering wing official said. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Survey of dilapidated buildings yet to be completed On the other hand, GHMC is yet to complete the survey for the identification of dilapidated structures and old compound walls. Three weeks ago, the GHMC commissioner had asked the town planning wing to serve notices on the owners of all dilapidated structures and carry out immediate vacation or sealing of the most dangerous structures. According to GHMC officials, if the owner undertakes the repair of the dilapidated structure as per the opinion, it must be ensured that the repair works meet the standards and a certificate on structural safety was submitted. A special drive for demolition of dilapidated structures was being carried out periodically.
Hans India
5 days ago
- Hans India
Key depts told to brace for monsoon readiness
Hyderabad: In preparation for the monsoon, VB Kamalasan Reddy, director, Telangana Integrated Command and Control Centre, on Monday called upon all departments to collaborate and nominate qualified officers to join TGICCC. He emphasised importance of forming a dedicated joint action team and urged timely use of TGICCC services throughout the monsoon period. At the meeting held at the war room in TGICCC key officials representing the Hyderabad Collectorate, GHMC, Fire Services, HYDRA, TGSPDCL, Medical & Health department, IMD, SDRF, HMWS&SB and the commissionerates of Cyberabad & Rachakonda headed by the DG & Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad were present. The meeting focused on assessing and enhancing the preparedness for the monsoon with special emphasis on flood monitoring and traffic management at 141 identified water-logging hotspots in GHMC limits. An action plan was discussed for power restoration during heavy rainfall, diverting floodwaters to designated nalas, mitigation of seasonal diseases, Identification and necessary action on dilapidated structures, deployment of Aapda Mitra volunteers and NGOs for emergency support, promotion and use of SACHET Mobile Application and other government services to ensure public safety. City Police Commissioner CV Anand appealed to all departments to proactively anticipate challenges and pre-deploy teams at vulnerable water-logging and critical points by teams from GHMC, Traffic Police, HMWS&SB, TGSPDCL, HYDRA. He called for optimum utilisation of TGICCC advanced facilities and communication system for real-time coordination during disaster and emergency situations. Y Nagi Reddy, representing the Fire Services department, emphasised the need for the command control centre to draft a standard operating procedure (SOP) defining the roles and responsibilities of various departments, including Medical & Health, for efficient handling of fire-related incidents during the monsoon. Officers AV Ranganath (HYDRA), Mukunda Rao (Hyderabad collectorate), N Narsimlu, Director (Operations)TGSPDCL, Sahadev Ratnakar, CE(M) GHMC, Dr Gajarao Bhupal, Joint CP, Cyberabad and others attended the meeting. It concluded with a collective commitment by all departments to work in synergy for the safety and well-being of the citizens during the monsoon.
