The Telangana Government has said it will crack the whip on 28,000 illegal constructions in Hyderabad that are blocking the catchment and discharge of water, leading to frequent flooding of low-lying areas in times of rains.

He blamed it on the indiscriminate permissions given by the erstwhile governments for constructions.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao has said the government has formed 24 squads to identify the illegal constructions in the 24 Circles of the city.

"Thousands of constructions had been taken up in the last 60 years on catchment areas and drainage canals. This needs to be changed. We will take serious measures to correct this," he said.

He said all the medium and major irrigation projects received bountiful water inflows over the past few days as incessant rains hit the State.

Hyderabad woes

He said the government will get a loan to the tune of Rs 20,000 crore for Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to develop civic infrastructure.

"Only 10 per cent of the roads in the city were damaged due to rains. We will give an immediate assistance of Rs 300-400 crore to the corporation to take up repairs. The city received 4-5 times more rain fall than the average of 84 mm, leading to the problem.

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