Take up Budameru Canal repairs immediately: Andhra Pradesh Minister
VIJAYAWADA: With the finalisation of tenders for repairing three breaches in the Budameru Canal caused by severe floods last year, Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu has directed officials to commence work without delay and ensure completion before the onset of the monsoon season.
Chairing a review meeting at the Secretariat on Wednesday, Nimmala stressed the urgency of flood preparedness and the modernisation of the Budameru Canal, along with progress on the Polavaram Left Canal.
During the meeting, Nimmala instructed the officials to evolve an action plan to increase the discharge capacity of the Budameru Diversion Canal to 37,500 cusecs by completing pending works.
A detailed project report has been sought to channel floodwaters through Kolleru and Upputeru into the sea. He also proposed constructing a parallel channel with a 10,000-cusec capacity to complement the existing Budameru Old Channel.
To bolster flood control efforts, Nimmala also asked the officials to script proposals under the Disaster Management framework with the Centre's assistance, ensuring coordination among the Revenue, Municipal, and Disaster Management Departments. A report will be submitted to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.
On the Polavaram Left Canal, the Water Resources Minister expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of manpower and machinery at construction sites, insisting that work be completed by June.
ENC M Venkateswara Rao, senior engineers, agency representatives, and department officials were present.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
5 hours ago
- The Hindu
Year-round action needed to tackle air pollution, says CM
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta unveiled an anti-air pollution plan at the Secretariat on Tuesday and underlined the need for continuous, year-round efforts to curb pollution in the national capital. Speaking at a press conference after the launch of the 'Air Pollution Mitigation Plan 2025', Ms. Gupta said her government is duty-bound to provide clean air to the people of Delhi, emphasising that air pollution has a direct impact on the health and well-being of citizens. 'This plan is not just a document, but a robust road map to protect the health of our citizens in the coming years. It lays the foundation for a clean, green, and healthy Delhi,' she said. Efforts to curb pollution cannot be seasonal and must 'take place all year round, not just for two months', the Chief Minister said while unveiling the plan, promising 'Shuddh hawa sabka adhikar — pradushan par zordar prahar (Clean air everyone's right — decisive strike against pollution)'. Tech-driven approach The multifaceted action plan focuses on eight key areas, combining technological innovation with strict implementation. To combat dust pollution, the government will deploy 200 mechanical road sweepers, 70 electric litter pickers, 38 water tankers, and 20 dump vehicles. Anti-smog guns will be mandatory for all high-rise commercial buildings (above 3,000 sqm). These efforts will be monitoredusing GPS and cameras, with night-time operations planned to avoid traffic disruption. The Chief Minister said that to ensure strict enforcement, an AI-based system will monitor registered construction sites and issue automated notices and penalties for dust violations. SMS alerts will be sent to end-of-life vehicle owners in neighbouringStates to create awareness. EV charging stations To support the shift to electric vehicles (EVs), the government will rapidly expand its EV charging network across commercial hubs, airports, railway stations, bus terminals, and parking sites. Pollution Under Control centres across the city will be upgraded and audited twice a year, Ms. Gupta said. In a push for urban greening, she announced a tree plantation drive under 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign, as part of which 70 lakh saplings would be planted across the city starting on Wednesday, which marks World Environment Day. From November 1 this year, only BS-VI, CNG, and electric light, medium, and heavy goods vehicles will be permitted entry into Delhi. Ms. Gupta urged citizens to join the campaign and become 'Environment Doots (environment ambassadors)' to make Delhi's air cleaner and healthier. Ms. Gupta clarified that the previousAam Aadmi Party government's odd-even policy would not be implemented as it had caused inconvenience to the public. 'What if a family has only one vehicle at home? We must take decisions keeping in mind the needs and realities of Delhi's citizens,' she said. The government has set a target to completely remove waste at the landfills in Okhla by March 2027, Bhalswa by December 2027, and Ghazipur by September 2028. The existing waste-to-energy plant in Okhla will be expanded from its current capacity of 1,950 tonnes per day (TPD) to 2,950 TPD by March 2027 and a new waste-to-energy plant with a capacity of 3,000 TPD will be set up at Narela-Bawana by November 2028, said the Chief Minister.
The Hindu
10 hours ago
- The Hindu
Bhu Bharati Act is a landmark legislation to find lasting solution to land disputes: Bhatti Vikramarka
Describing Bhu Bharati as a historic and landmark legislation in Indian history, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka has said it aims to survey farmers' lands, clearly identify boundaries and address all land ownership disputes. He was speaking after launching the Bhu Bharati Survey Pilot Project in Mulugumadu village of Yerrupalem mandal of Khammam district on Tuesday. The ambitious project was launched in the presence of Minister for Agriculture Tummala Nageswara Rao and Minister for Revenue Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy amid a large gathering of villagers from various parts of Yerrupalem mandal. A demonstration of drone-aided survey and a digital survey using the Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) was held on the occasion to highlight the efficacy of the modern land-surveying equipment to identify land boundaries with accurate precision, officials said. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Mr. Vikramarka said the Dharani portal introduced by the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government trampled on farmers' rights. 'It essentially eliminated farmers from their own lands. The BRS leaders manipulated the system by allocating lands to their preferred individuals and brought in Dharani in such a way that no corrections or revisions could be made,' he said, pointing out that in many instances passbooks were issued for 17 acres where only 10 acres existed. 'We have kept our pre-poll promise to throw the Dharani portal into the Bay of Bengal and brought in a well thought out Bhu Bharati Act to find a permanent solution to the land disputes,' he asserted. He added that the successive Congress governments distributed 26 lakh acres to the poor under land reform laws in the past. But the previous BRS government listed these lands under Part B of Dharani without any investigation or verification. 'We will review all those assigned lands, and issue rightful land titles to eligible beneficiaries. For the landless poor, we are restarting the Assigned Committees under the leadership of MLAs through the Bhu Bharati law to allocate agricultural land and housing plots,' Mr. Vikramarka added. Explaining the salient features of the Bhu Bharati Act, he said: 'The new law enables survey of cultivated lands as well. It mandates that annual revenue conferences be conducted and allows for public disclosure in Gram Sabhas about land sales and changes in land records.' He asserted that Bhu Bharati Act will uphold and formalize the legal rights of farmers over their land. Mr. Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy said the Bhu Bharati legislation was enacted after extensive consultation with all stakeholders and in-depth study in various States. It replaced the flawed Dharani that undermined the interests of farmers, he said, adding that the people's government led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy took up landmark initiatives to improve land record management and address land ownership disputes in a transparent and decentralized manner.
Hans India
21 hours ago
- Hans India
Fervour marks Telangana state Formation Day
Warangal: Telangana Formation Day was celebrated on a grand note in the erstwhile Warangal district on Monday. Revenue and the District In-charge Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, who hoisted the tricolor at the Fort Warangal on the occasion of Telangana Formation Day, said that the government is moving ahead with the Telangana Rising – 2047 vision. The government is focused on welfare and social justice, green energy, infrastructure and industrial, and tourism policies. Telangana didn't achieve the desired development in the first 10 years. Moreover, the State was pushed into a debt trap. However, the State is forging ahead in welfare and development since the Congress assumed power, Reddy said. The government released a white paper on the financial status of the State, he said. District collector Satya Sharada, Mayor Gundu Sudharani, MLCs Baswaraj Saraiah and P Sripal Reddy, MLAs Revuri Prakash Reddy, and K R Nagaraju, and KUDA chairman E Venkatram Reddy were present. Minister for Environment, Forests and Endowment Konda Surekha hoisted the flag at the Police Parade Ground in Hanumakonda. She hailed Sonia Gandhi for realising the separate Telangana State dream of the people in the region. She paid tributes to the Telangana martyrs. District Collector P Pravinya and Commissioner of Police Sunpreet Singh were among others present. In Mulugu, Minister for Panchayat Raj Seethakka hoisted the national flag at Thangedu Grounds. She said in detail about the development taking place in Mulugu. District collector Diwakara TS and superintendent of police Sabarish were among others present.
