Alina
HYDRAA GHMC robots Ameerpet drains
HYDRAA and GHMC Use Robots to Clear Drains Below Ameerpet Metro Station
Urban flooding has been one of Hyderabad’s most pressing challenges in recent years. Every monsoon, certain low-lying pockets of the city turn into temporary lakes, disrupting daily life and causing damage to both public and private property. Among the worst affected is the busy Ameerpet main road, located under the Ameerpet metro station, which witnesses heavy waterlogging whenever torrential rains lash the city.
In response, the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (HYDRAA) and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) have adopted a new approach: the use of robots for clearing underground drains. These robots are being deployed to remove hardened silt, plastic waste, and other debris that have long clogged the city’s stormwater drains.
Flooding at Ameerpet Sparks New Solutions
On Tuesday, September 9, HYDRAA commissioner A.V. Ranganath personally inspected the desilting operations underway near the Ameerpet metro station. The commissioner reviewed the progress of robotic cleaning technology being used to tackle the stubborn blockages beneath the metro structure.
Officials explained that the box drains under Ameerpet had become clogged with years of accumulated silt and non-biodegradable waste. Traditional manual desilting methods proved insufficient because the hardened deposits were difficult to remove by conventional means. The adoption of robo-technology, according to GHMC engineers, has proven more effective in breaking down and removing the debris, ensuring that rainwater can flow unobstructed.
The officials assured the commissioner that the ongoing desilting operations would be completed within four to five days, after which the road would be better equipped to withstand future downpours without flooding.
Why Robots Are Being Used
Hyderabad has seen rapid urbanization over the last two decades. This growth has placed immense pressure on its drainage systems. Many underground box drains are now filled with non-degradable plastics, mud, and construction waste, making them difficult to clean manually.
Robots offer several advantages:
-
Efficiency: Robots can reach deeper sections of drains that manual workers often cannot.
-
Safety: Workers are spared from exposure to toxic gases, harmful waste, and waterborne diseases.
-
Precision: Robo-cleaning technology allows targeted removal of hardened deposits.
-
Speed: Compared to manual desilting, robots reduce the overall time required for drain maintenance.
This deployment at Ameerpet is being viewed as a pilot initiative. If successful, officials may consider replicating the model across other flood-prone zones of Hyderabad.
HYDRAA Expands Focus to Lake Encroachments
While flood prevention is a priority, HYDRAA is also addressing another major urban concern: illegal lake encroachments. Hyderabad’s lakes and water bodies have been steadily shrinking due to illegal dumping and unauthorized constructions.
Recently, HYDRAA intervened in a case in Tukkuguda municipality, where debris was being illegally dumped into the Kothakunta tank. HYDRAA officials confirmed that Vertex Real Estate, a prominent builder, had been booked in two separate cases for these violations.
In addition, the agency revealed that Vertex Real Estate had also constructed illegal structures at Suram Cheruvu, another lake in the area. These unauthorized constructions were demolished by HYDRAA as part of its mission to protect Hyderabad’s water bodies.
Dispute Between Vertex Real Estate and Chaitanya Reddy
The issue, however, did not end with encroachment removal. A dispute arose between Vertex Real Estate and a complainant named Chaitanya Reddy. According to HYDRAA’s clarification, the disagreement was over a road laid by the realtor, which Reddy claimed had encroached on her land.
HYDRAA stated that while it took note of the complaint, it did not intervene in the civil dispute between the two parties. Instead, the agency facilitated discussions between them to seek a resolution.
Financial and Legal Complications
The matter became more complex when financial transactions surfaced. Chaitanya Reddy alleged that she had paid ₹50 lakh to Sunkari Naresh, associated with Vertex Real Estate, expecting the dispute to be settled. However, Naresh claimed the money was his legal fee for services rendered as an advocate.
Adding another twist, HYDRAA disclosed that Sunkari Naresh had been removed from the Bar Council’s membership, though he later secured a temporary stay order against the decision. The matter is now under investigation by the Pahadi Shareef Police Station, which is probing the role of middlemen and possible irregularities.
HYDRAA’s Stand
HYDRAA has firmly distanced itself from the controversy, emphasizing that its role is limited to protecting public assets and natural resources. The agency condemned what it called “false propaganda” spread by Sunkari Naresh against it.
Officials stressed that HYDRAA’s mandate is to ensure:
-
Protection of Hyderabad’s lakes, tanks, and stormwater drains.
-
Removal of encroachments and prevention of illegal dumping.
-
Deployment of modern technology to manage urban disasters like flooding.
By maintaining this stance, HYDRAA aims to send a clear message that political or personal disputes will not deter its operations.
Broader Implications for Hyderabad
The events surrounding Ameerpet’s flooding and Tukkuguda’s encroachments highlight a larger issue — Hyderabad’s struggle to balance urban growth with environmental sustainability. On one hand, the city is expanding rapidly, with new infrastructure projects, real estate developments, and transportation hubs. On the other hand, its natural drainage systems and lakes are under constant threat.
The use of robots in drain cleaning is a symbol of innovation, showing how technology can address long-standing problems. Simultaneously, HYDRAA’s crackdown on illegal lake encroachments reflects the urgency to preserve natural water bodies that act as flood buffers.
Public Response and Expectations
Public reactions to HYDRAA and GHMC’s initiatives have been cautiously optimistic. Many Hyderabad residents welcomed the introduction of technology in civic works, noting that automation reduces human risk and increases efficiency.
However, activists have cautioned that technology alone is not enough. Long-term solutions, such as:
-
Strict enforcement of waste management rules,
-
Prevention of plastic disposal into drains,
-
Stronger penalties for encroachers, and
-
Regular monitoring of drainage systems,
are equally necessary to prevent a repeat of Ameerpet-like flooding.
The Road Ahead
As Hyderabad continues to modernize, its civic agencies will face mounting challenges. The twin strategies of adopting technology and enforcing regulations will be crucial to building a resilient city.
For HYDRAA and GHMC, the immediate task is clear: ensure that the Ameerpet desilting project is completed on time, and expand robotic cleaning to other vulnerable areas. For the long term, these agencies must collaborate with environmental groups, urban planners, and citizens to create sustainable drainage and lake conservation models.
If Hyderabad can successfully combine technological innovation with strict governance, the city may not only overcome its flooding woes but also set an example for other urban centers in India.
Disclaimer: The following article is a rewritten version of reported news, created for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on publicly available information, and no part of it is intended to defame or misrepresent any individual, organization, or institution.
