Key precautionary measures completed to prevent repeat of Budameru flood: Nimmala Ramanaidu
Minister for Water Resources Nimmala Ramanaidu announced that significant precautionary measures have been completed to prevent a repeat of the devastating Budameru flood that inundated Vijayawada last year.
Speaking after inspecting the works on Monday, the Minister noted that 'Operation Budameru' — a permanent and large-scale flood mitigation plan — may take another three to four years to be implemented fully. The government is making all-out efforts to expedite the project in coordination with the Central government and Disaster Management authorities. Until then, immediate safety works for Vijayawada city have already been completed under the Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's direction, he said.
The Minister said that a 365 metre-long concrete retaining wall (CC wall) has been constructed to seal three breaches that had occurred along the Budameru bund during last year's flood. Financial clearance for the wall was granted in April, tenders were finalised in May, and the construction was completed in record time ahead of the monsoon season. Alongside the CC wall, the left bund of Budameru is being reinforced by raising its height by half a metre throughout 7 km, he said.
Highlighting the issue of the Velagaleru regulator, where floodgates had failed to open during last year's deluge, he said that the previous government had neglected even basic maintenance like greasing the gates. It was only through the help of local farmers and JCB machinery that the gates were opened at the time. Now, all 12 gates of the regulator have been replaced at ₹1.8 crore, he said.
Mr. Ramanaidu further said that the current discharge capacity of the old Budameru channel and Enikepadu outfall drain is only 4,000 cusecs, which is being enhanced to 20,000 cusecs. In addition, desilting is being carried out along the 57-kilometre Budameru drain stretch from Enikepadu to Kolleru to ensure smooth water flow, he said.
To safely carry floodwater from Kolleru into the sea via the Upputeru channel, desilting work is also under way with ₹9 crore worth of tenders already issued.
Irrigation Advisor M. Venkateswara Rao, ENC Narasimhamaurthy, Krishna Delta CE Rambabu, and other senior officials were also present.
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