Secunderabad residents blame occupied nalas for flood misery

SECUNDERABAD: Thousands of residents of several colonies in Secunderabad are in despair. They say several nalas, which course through the colonies for about 50 to 80 kilometres, are encroached by people with powerful connections.
It’s a fact that over 60% of open nalas, built spaciously before Independence, are encroached in the cantonment region. Concerned with the situation, Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) has approached the courts to evict these squatters but most disputes are unresolved.
Banala Srinivas Reddy, secretary, Cantonment Citizen’s Civic Amenities Development Society said: “Our fight with the SCB officials for the past two decades is to remove encroachments and improve the condition of the nalas. But very little happened. Land sharks have occupied these open nalas and have built several residences. Though the SCB razed down a few, many cases are pending in the court. After witnessing the damage done now, the government has to focus on this issue.”
He said that nalas should be cleaned once in three months. “Instead of cleaning the open nalas only during the rainy season, SCB should clean them once in three months. Only then there will be free flow of sewage and low-lying areas will be saved from flood,” Reddy said.