Secunderabad Cantonment Board begins removal of nala encroachments

Secunderabad: Almost after a decade, the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) has taken up demolition of illegal encroachments on nalas in the cantonment. Till date, 35 encroachments have been demolished.

In the wake of heavy rainfall this year, there have been several complaints about water entering houses abutting nalas. In the last few years, residents have covered the nalas with cement and started using the space for parking and setting up make-shift shops.

The SCB has identified an encroachment at the main nala in Bowenpally and it would be demolished soon, said a senior official. Illegal encroachments were cleared in Marredpally, Kakaguda, Bolarum and Trimulgherry areas.

Speaking to The Hans India, B Balakrishna , assistant engineer SCB ward - IV and VII, said, "We received many complaints from the residents about sewage water flowing inside the residents due to blockage of nala whenever there is a heavy downpour.

We have identified some encroachments that were creating problems for the residents in Sripuri Colony and other areas in Bowenpally and by this week, they would be removed" "Our engineering team is advised to inspect all the respective eight wards in SCB to identify structures like compound walls, storerooms, toilets and cement structures which are built illegally on the nalas," said Mohammad Iqbal Ahmed, Cantonment Engineer-ward II & III.

The top priority is to pull down all the illegal structures built on open nalas, be it major or minor one, so that sewage water will not cause any inconvenience to the residents and commuters, especially during the rains.

Recently the officials conducted a massive drive at Marredpally, near Krupa Community Hall and Padmaja Colony in Kakaguda where illegal structures from the open nala were removed. Even from Bolarum and Trimulgherry also the encroachments were pull down. This would be a massive drive and it will continue till we are able to demolish all the illegal structures from the open from all the eight wards, said officials.