‘Op Budameru’ next on govt’s priority

Vijayawada: In the wake of the recent floods that severely affected nearly half of Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh govt is focusing on long-term measures to prevent future flood-related disasters, said district collector Dr G Srujana.
The floods, caused by heavy rains, exposed the vulnerabilities of the city's drainage and water management systems. Speaking about the upcoming plans, collector Srujana announced that after the compensation is distributed among the flood victims, govt will prioritise ‘Operation Budameru' and aim at improving the city's drainage system.
A key aspect of this initiative is to ensure that sewerage channels and outfalls are properly maintained in prder to manage water flow effectively.
Operation Budameru will be carried out with minimal disruption, the collector said. The district administration, along with officials from irrigation, city planning, and revenue departments, have conducted a thorough survey to identify encroachments along the Budameru riverbanks. The river flows through 2,700 acres across 40 villages from A. Kondur to Vijayawada in NTR district. The survey identified that approximately 270 acres of crop fields have been encroached upon, along with 3,000 houses and 80 structures.
Srujana explained that after careful examination, action will be taken to remove encroachments and restore the natural flow of the Budameru.
The objective would be to minimise future flood risks without causing unnecessary harm to residents.