KTR accuses government of failing to prepare for monsoon

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K. T. Rama Rao on Wednesday criticised the Congress government over the disruption caused by the season’s first major spell of rain in Hyderabad, alleging inadequate pre-monsoon preparedness and neglect of precautionary measures usually undertaken ahead of the monsoon.

In a statement, the former Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister said the city’s infrastructure had failed to cope with the rainfall, resulting in severe traffic congestion and inconvenience to commuters across the capital.

Expressing concern over the hardships faced by residents, particularly women and office-goers who were reportedly stranded in traffic for several hours, Mr. Rao questioned the government’s handling of the situation and accused it of failing to respond promptly to citizens’ concerns.

Referring to initiatives launched during the previous BRS government, he said programmes such as the Strategic Nala Development Programme (SNDP) and the Strategic Road Development Programme (SRDP) were designed to address urban flooding and traffic bottlenecks. He alleged that the present administration had not built upon those efforts.

Mr. Rao also raised concerns over reports of power outages and electrocution incidents during the rains, accusing the government of being indifferent to public welfare. He further alleged that the administration was focusing on land-related issues instead of strengthening civic infrastructure.

Warning of political consequences, the BRS leader said Hyderabad’s residents would hold the Congress government accountable in the forthcoming municipal elections. Describing Hyderabad as Telangana’s economic engine, he urged the government to accord priority to urban infrastructure and public services.