HYDERABAD, Oct 9: The director-general of the Hyderabad Development Authority, Mr Tahir Ahmed, has said that causes of delay in draining out rainwater were unprecedentedly heavy rains, outdated drainage network and paucity of funds.

Speaking at the “Meet the Press” programme of the Hyderabad Press Club here on Monday, he said that 12 inches rainfall was recorded till the end of August and the situation was aggravated by 18-hour rainfall on September 7 and 8.

He said that with the available system, it took 24 hours to drain out one inch of rainwater.

He said that in 40 per cent of the area of Hyderabad, Latifabad and Qasimabad talukas, drainage system simply did not exist at all. He said that Latifabad came into existence in 1956 and drainage system laid at that time could cater to the needs of only 60,000 people.

He said that the network had outlived its life of 30 years and the population of Latifabad had increased to half a million people.

He said that total replacement of the drainage system was required which was not done.

He said that the HDA was set up in 1976 and it had received this outdated system in legacy.

He said that Latifabad-2, 8 and 11 were located in depression and rainwater was accumulated in these areas.

Tahir Ahmed said that 300 million gallons rainwater had accumulated in unit-2 after September 7 and 8 rains and 30 days were needed to drain out stagnant water but the same was disposed of in only 13 days by adopting emergency measures and using other corridors for the disposal of rainwater.

Similar was the case in unit-8 and 11 where huge quantity of rainwater had accumulated, he said. About Qasimabad, the direct-general pointed out that 80 acres and 150 acres was planned in two phases but due to the influx of people, 2,000 acres of land had been occupied.

He said that no drainage system existed in 50 old villages and katchi abadis hence the agency had to face Herculean task to drain out accumulated water.

He said that the Greater Hyderabad Sewerage Project was conceived in 1986 but it was started in 1996 and was to be completed in five years but till date it had not been completed due to interruptions in the release of funds.

Replying questions about various development packages, he said that on August 26, Hyderabad Development Package of Rs10 billion was announced.

He said that the other package of Rs500 million for sewerage and drainage system was announced in 2002 by former Sindh Governor Mohammedmian Soomro on the recommendations of army for urgent rehabilitation of the sewerage and drainage system to be completed in two years.

He said that out of the package, only Rs125 million were released but only Rs9 million could be utilised due to the delay in the appointment of project director.

He said that announcement about the release of Rs224 million had also been made.

He said that the governor’s package was meant for completion of 177 works out of which 114 schemes were in hand and 49 had been completed.