Challenge description

In Hyderabad, capital of Telangana, flood has become an annual phenomenon. The city's drainage system was developed in the early 1930s after the disastrous Musi flood of 1908 since then, while additions have been made to the drainage and sewage system but no revamp done yet. Hyderabad has an aged drainage and sewerage system, with only 1,500 km of drain main canals and 2 lakh manholes, as against a requirement of 5,000 km of drain canals and 4 lakh manholes (as estimated). The city's drainage system was developed in the early 1930s after the disastrous Musi flood of 1908 since then, while additions have been made to the drainage and sewage system but there has been no revamp. 

Hyderabad is witnessing the frequent torrential rains flooded most part of the city in the past few years. There are enormous reasons behind this flooding; unplanned construction activity is also one of the main culprit. Flooding is also occurring due to overflowing drains and encroachment by lakes, construction over nalas and huge concrete buildings have blocked groundwater enrichment.

Sometimes, blockages obstructs the free flow of rainwater. Blockages in sewer lines caused by waste that is flushed down toilets or thrown in open drains and manholes. The lack of a functioning garbage disposal system also causes blockages in drains. Clogged water outlets makes the situation more worse.

People of the city are facing problems whenever there are incessant and heavy rains in the city. In some cases, even the first floors of their buildings were flooded. Remodelling and widening of storm water drains, nala desiltation and alternative arrangements for low-lying areas need to be focussed.'

Challenge vision

Solutions should focus on:

• Concept of Sponge city
• Adapting best architectures plans
• Demolition of illegal structures and tank beds
• Install water infiltration and attenuation systems
• Develop a network of small-to-medium-sized green areas absorbs and stores excess water.
• Urban designing with evolving layouts
• Compulsory implementation of adopting rainwater harvest systems at each household level
• Paving should let water infiltrate to the underground and feed the aquifers
• Allotment of least 20% of public ground to work as a sponge to reduce flash flooding in dense inner-urban area
• Public and private responsibility
• Post-flood recovery programs

Roof top rainwater harvesting system.