Chennai fate stares at Vijayawada

Vijayawada: Vijayawada city, de facto capital of Andhra Pradesh, faces the realistic chance of experiencing a nightmare like Chennai city, if the municipal corporation officials fail to complete the storm water drains on a war footing. A mere 5 cm rains leaves city under sheets of water currently.

The residents of One Town and several other areas of the city have been facing flood problem during rainy season every year due to lack of proper drains. As the city is surrounded by hills on two sides, the flash floods from the hills will submerge roads in several colonies.

In addition, lack of outfall drains also is multiplying the problem in the city since it faced submergence problem and the residents of One Town were forced to lock themselves in their houses for two days during Cyclone Laila in 2010 and again in 2012 and 2014 due to lack of storm water drains.

An official of the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation, on the condition of anonymity, said that the Central government sanctioned Rs 461 crore to the VMC for storm water drains and the State government is yet to release the funds. He said that the VMC had to develop storm water drains at a stretch of nearly 200 km in the city to prevent inundation of roads.

Mayor K Sridhar also urged Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu several times for the release of the funds. But the State government is yet to release the funds. Union Minister for Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu during a meeting here on December 5 said that he had released funds to Vijayawada city immediately after receiving proposals from the State government.

A resident of Chittinagar in One Town A Nagaraju said that they had been facing flood problem during every rainy season in the absence of outfall drains. He criticised the municipal corporation for its failure to complete the outfall drain at Jakkampudi by arriving at an understanding with railway authorities since the drain has to pass through the railway line at Nizam gate.