Hyderabad. Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has decided to assign more important responsibilities to the Disaster Management Department in Greater Hyderabad limits. Officials have been asked to change the entire system as well as assign responsibilities to the officials in line with the decision taken by the government.
The Chief Minister held a review meeting with officials of the Department of Municipal Administration, HMDA and Musi Riverfront Development Corporation at the Secretariat on Monday. In view of the expansion of the geographical area of Hyderabad, the Chief Minister ordered to extend the scope of the Disaster Management Department to the Outer Ring Road (ORR). Revanth Reddy suggested making necessary changes to extend the services of the Disaster Management Department to GHMC, 27 municipalities, municipal corporations and 33 gram panchayats.
The Chief Minister said that the Disaster Management Department will be renamed as Hydra or Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Monitoring Protection. He said that a DIG level officer will be appointed as the Director of Hydra and SP level officers will be designated as Additional Directors. Revanth Reddy also suggested the formation of special teams from GHMC, HMDA, Water Board, City Traffic and various departments in the disaster wing.
Apart from the regular services during floods and accidents, the Chief Minister directed the officials to restructure the entire disaster management wing to provide continuous services to the people of the city. He made it clear that the hydra should be proactive to deal with all the problems faced by the people in the city.
The Chief Minister decided that the Disaster Management Department will take the prime responsibility of protecting lakes and ponds, drains in the city and government properties within the GHMC area of about 2,000 km from the threat of encroachment. Apart from this, the disaster management wing will also provide services like hoardings and flexi, drinking water pipelines, power supply lines, drainage, flood management and traffic control.
The Chief Minister ordered to expedite the work of Musi Riverfront Development Project and alerted the officials that the project should work in line with the government’s goal of promoting Hyderabad as the best international city.
He also asked the officials to take appropriate measures to restore buildings of historical importance and dilapidated structures in Hyderabad. GHMC officials gave a powerpoint presentation on various historical places like City Library, Ayurvedic Hospital near Charminar, Nizamia Observatory, Gudimalkapur Lake, etc. He suggested exploring ways to develop them as tourist destinations.
