Encroachments on Secunderabad Cantonment open nalas removed

SECUNDERABAD: A massive drive against illegal structures built upon open nalas is in full swing in Secunderabad Cantonment.
A cement beam on an open nala at Padmaja Colony in Kakaguda was demolished on Monday by engineering and health and sanitation officials of Secunderabad Cantonment Board .
“We have identified encroachments on these two nalas. Till now, 30 illegal structures have been pulled down,” sanitation superintendent (solid waste management), M Devender said.
The officials got into action after receiving hundreds of complaints from residents who raised concerns over their premises getting flooded by the overflowing drainage water.
SCB chief executive officer SVR Chandra Sekhar asked the officials to pull down all the illegal structures. There are two major open nalas — Picket nala and Hasmathpet nala — running through and finally entering Husssainsagar lake.
Officials said ward-wise inspection is being conducted to identify structures like compound walls, store rooms, watchmen/security guard rooms. toilets and cement which were built illegally on the nalas.
Drainage water entered apartments after Picket nala, which connects between Mahendra Hills and Patny Nala at Begumpet, started overflowing. “Commercial units, godowns and manufacturing units are dumping plastic, thermocol wastage into these open nalas which often lead to clogging of the nalas and inundation of roads,” an official said.
SCB deputy CEO Vijay Kumar Balan Nair told TOI that notices were served to those staying in decades old buildings in dilapidated condition. “Chances are that these dilapidated structures may crumble in the wake of incessant rains. We have asked the residents to vacate the premises.”
Officials said the encroachments are causing inconvenience to commuters and locals. “The drive against encroachments on open nalas will continue,” Nair added.