Rama Krishna Sangem
Veda Kumar Manikonda, Chairman of Forum for A Better Hyderabad and Deccan Heritage Academy ,will be leading the 15th Musi River Front Walk between 10.30 am and 2 pm on September 25, Sunday. The walk is being held on the occasion of World Rivers Day. Around 80 to 200 heritage lovers and environment enthusiasts are expected to join the walk.
The walk will take place on Musi river southern bed from Salar Jung Museum to under the Shivaji Bridge, close to 2 km. Veda Kumar Manikonda has been organizing this Musi front walk since 2008, marking the 100 years of fateful floods to Musi River in 1908. Hyderabad city witnessed very heavy rains for 2 days, on September 27 and 28, claiming a minimum 15,000 lives.
Talking to Excel India, Veda Kumar Manikonda said: “We shall never forget those tragic-historic floods to River Musi. According to some estimates, around 20,000 houses were washed away, killing a large number of people within hours. We on behalf of the Forum have begun Musi River front to bring awareness among the youth and public on the need to protect the river and our great city”.
Floods of 1908
When the city was devastated by the floods in 1908, 6th Nizam Mir Mahaboob Ali Khan was the ruler of Hyderabad State. His son and successor Mir Osman Ali Khan who ascended the throne in 1911 set up City Improvement Board and constructed two balancing reservoirs – Himayat Sagar and Osman Sagar – on the river. An extensive drainage lines too were laid after that, explained Veda Kumar Manikonda.
Walk for Change
The Musi River Front Walk every year is sort of an event for the river lovers in the city. Besides students, youth and general public, senior officials and engineers too join the walk. “This is not a walk to remember and recollect the sad saga of floods, but also to remind everyone the need to improve the city infrastructure, especially the drainage network expansion and clearing of the river banks from encroachments,” said Veda Kumar Manikonda.
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