KTR asks officials to clear slush on roads to make them motorable again

HYDERABAD: Telangana Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) Minister K.T. Rama Rao directed officials on Saturday to clear accumulated mounds of slush and mud on roads in towns and major highways due to recent rains and to make them motorable again.

Speaking at a teleconference on Saturday discussing the necessary responsibilities following the torrential rains that affected Telangana last week, KTR emphasized that roads in towns should be made motorable again and temporary repairs should be carried out as soon as possible.

He convened the teleconference with senior Municipal Administration Department officials, municipal commissioners, and Additional Collectors. Several issues were thoroughly reviewed during the meeting, including steps to avoid waterborne diseases, the provision of safe drinking water, sanitation management, and the rehabilitation of highways and other arterial roads to make them motorable again.

The Minister urged officials to take relief efforts as a challenge in the prevailing situation and exhorted them to move ahead with greater commitment. KTR said that the State government was prepared to provide any form of assistance in this regard.

Stating that leave for all staff were canceled, he asked the officials to coordinate with other departments for the relief works. The MA&UD Minister laid emphasis on preventing any loss of life.

KTR said that water bodies in cities and towns were full and asked the officials to monitor them regularly. If need be, they had to be emptied according to guidelines, after consulting Irrigation department officials. He asked them to shift people from low lying areas if necessary. Control rooms were set up in all districts including Hyderabad to coordinate the relief works.

The Minister urged them ensure that towns and highways were cleared of the accumulated mud. He emphasized that roads in towns should be made motorable and that necessary temporary repairs should be undertaken.

The Minister underscored the need for sanitation drives in all towns and asked officials to provide additional staff and vehicles if necessary. KTR also wanted them to undertake large-scale programmes for bleaching powder, sodium hypochlorite, and mosquito repellent spraying. He asked them to make use of dewatering pumps to drain accumulated water.

The MA&UD Minister also asked the officials to raise awareness among people about the importance of boiling and filtering water before drinking. Additionally, KTR asked them to collaborate with Mission Bhagiratha officials to promptly fix leaks in pipelines and ensure the chlorination of drinking water.

KTR asked the officials to coordinate with District Medical and Health Officers (DM&HOs) for medical and health programmes. He told them to demolish the remaining dilapidated buildings. He asked officials to coordinate with electricity department officials regarding repair works.