The Hyderabad Disaster Response & Asset Protection Agency has sped up the de-silting of the stormwater drains from Jubilee Hills and Venkatagiri areas via Krishna Nagar and towards Ameerpet, a few days ahead of the onset of monsoons.A statement from the HYDRAA has informed that the drains, meandering through lanes and bylanes, are filled silt, which reduced the capacity of the drains by 70%. Though the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation has awarded the de-silting works to a contractor, the works have been delayed, hence, HYDRAA had to intervene.HYDRAA chief A.V. Ranganath, during an inspection on Saturday, directed the officials and the contractor to expedite the works, and remove the slabs wherever necessary to be able to remove the silt. He asked the contractor to fix iron grills to the drains for faster evacuation of water. Mr. Ranganath also spoke about a proposal to create another major drain from Venkatagiri circumventing the narrow lanes.He also inspected the status of the drains of Malkam Cheruvu in Kukatpally and expressed dissatisfaction at the sturdiness of sluice gates being installed to reduce the water level in the lake. Due to compromised inlets and outlets, the area experiences severe floods every year, he said, and directed the officials to ensure that the sluices are able to bring down the lake’s level by two meters.Along with the de-silting of the inlets, the sluice at the outlet should be expanded, and deepened, he directed. Officials from HYDRAA, GHMC, Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board, and Irrigation departments accompanied him on his inspection. Published - May 30, 2026 08:24 pm IST