Flood threat to 16 divisions in Vijayawada

VIJAYAWADA: The overflowing Budameru rivulet has posed a flood threat to 16 divisions in the city.Following heavy rains in its catchment areas, the rivulet has been overflowing in the city for the past one week blocking the way to New Rajarajeswaripet and Old Rajarajeswaripet.About 40,000 people living in these two colonies are finding it difficult to cross the overflowing culvert.The rivulet has a regulator at Velagaleru village located 15 km away from Vijayawada.It also has a diversion canal near Ibrahimpatnam to Krishna river.The TDP, CPI and CPM organised several protests demanding channelisation of the rivulet as a permanent solution to Budameru floods which wreak havoc.Responding to the persistent demand of the opposition parties, the state government had decided to channelise the rivulet from Velagaleru regulator to Kolleru lake and diversion canal near Ibrahimpatnam to Krishna river to regulate the flow of flood water.A proposal to construct a bridge near Rajarajeswaripet culvert is also pendingThough the government sanctioned funds for channelisation, there is little progress in worksSpeaking to Express, CPM state committee member Ch Babu Rao said despite the release of funds there was no progress in channelisation works of the rivuletIt stands testimony to the government apathy to a perennial problem, the CPM leader said.Speaking at a protest organised by the CPI against the government apathy, party city secretary K Subbaraju flayed the ruling party MLAs and MPs for their ‘failure’ to ensure completion of channelisation works despite the release of funds by the government.Telugu Desam Party former floor leader in the VMC Y Ramana Rao questioned Vijayawada Central MLA Malladi Vishnu on the issue on Tuesday when the lattervisited the overflowing rivulet.The MLA also strongly reacted stating that Rao who represented New Rajarajeswaripet division in the last council, did nothing in this regardThis resulted in a verbal duel between the two.The TDP organised a day-long protest at the culvert demanding channelisation of the rivulet.