Retaining wall to protect people from Krishna floods

Vijayawada: The long pending problems of inundation of homes in Ramalingeswara Nagar and Yanamalakudu due to the Krishna river floods will be solved soon as the State government has sanctioned Rs 126 crore for the construction of the retaining wall on a war-footing.

When flood waters from Krishna River entered the homes in Ramalingeswara Nagar in August 2019, Ministers Perni Nani, Kodali Nani and Velampalli Srinivas along with Irrigation Minister Anil Kumar visited the flood-affected areas and assured the locals of constructing a retaining wall at the earliest to check the inundation due to floods. As per the assurance given by the ministers, the state government sanctioned Rs 126 crore for construction of retaining wall from Ramalingeswara Nagar to Yanamalakuduru.

For the first time in six years, the Krishna river received heavy floods in 2019 and 510 TMC water released from Prakasam barrage into the sea.

When water released into sea, the riverbed areas were inundated triggering panic among the residents. Last year, flood water entered several hundred homes in Ramalingeswara Nagar, Krishnalanka and Yanamalakuduru. Consequently, the affected families were evacuated to makeshift relief camps. To prevent the inundation problem, the State government has released Rs 126 crore for construction of retaining wall.

During the TDP rule, a retaining wall was built to check inundation downstream of Varadhi. The existing retaining wall is not sufficient to stop the flood water from entering the homes in Ramalingeswara Nagar and Yanamalakuduru.

Irrigation department Deputy Superintendent Engineer K Shiva Bhaskar Rao said all measures will be taken to construct a solid retaining wall, which can withstand the force of flood water. Prakasam barrage received 11 lakh cusecs in 2009 which is the highest record. He said proper care will be taken to drain the storm water out from the residential areas into the river and to check the flood waters flowing into residential areas during the floods. He said the officials have noticed some defects in the retaining constructed earlier from Varadhi to downstream area. Bhaskar Rao said the defects will be rectified and inundation will be checked from floods.

Flash floods are the most dangerous to the people living in river bed areas. Prakasam barrage has released 510 TMC water in one rainy season into sea in 2019. Vijayawada East assembly constituency YSRCP in-charge Devineni Avinash said the long-pending demand of the residents of Ramalingeswara Nagar will be fulfilled with the sanction of funds and he thanked Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for sanctioning Rs 126 crore for construction of retaining wall. 

By Mohammad Ameen