Latest news with #OperationBudameru
Hans India
6 days ago
- Climate
- Hans India
Flood prevention works done in record time: Minister
Vijayawada: Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu announced that key pre-emptive measures to prevent flooding from the Budameru canal, which devastated Vijayawada last year, have been completed in record time. After inspecting the ongoing works on Monday, Minister Ramanaidu stated that the construction of a 365-metre-long CC (Concrete) wall, connecting three breaches on the Budameru embankment is now finished. 'Financial approval for the CC wall construction was received in April, tenders were called in May, and we were able to complete the work in record time before the monsoon season began,' the Minister said. In addition to the CC wall, the left bank of the Budameru, spanning seven kilometres, is being strengthened by raising its height by half a metre. Addressing a critical issue from last year's floods, the Minister highlighted that the gates of the Velagaleru Regulator failed to open due to a lack of maintenance over the past five years. Farmers had to use JCBs to manually open them. Now, all 12 gates of the Velagaleru Regulator have been replaced with new ones at a cost of Rs 1.8 crore. The minister further detailed plans to significantly upgrade the Budameru's capacity. The existing Budameru Old Channel and Enikepadu UT, which currently have a capacity of 4,000 cusecs, will be expanded to 20,000 cusecs. Furthermore, desilting work is underway along the 57-kilometre Budameru drain from Enikepadu to Kolleru Lake to ensure smooth water flow. To facilitate the discharge of water from Kolleru into the sea via Upputeru, tenders worth Rs 9 crore have been invited for desilting works in that area. While 'Operation Budameru' for permanent flood prevention may take another three to four years to complete, requiring financial approvals and coordination with the Central Government and Disaster Management, Minister Ramanaidu assured that immediate measures for Vijayawada's safety have been prioritised and completed under the guidance of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. The inspection was attended by Irrigation Advisor M Venkateswara Rao, E'N'C Narasimhamurthy, Krishna Delta CE Rambabu, and other senior officials.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Key precautionary measures completed to prevent repeat of Budameru flood: Nimmala Ramanaidu
Minister for Water Resources Nimmala Ramanaidu announced that significant precautionary measures have been completed to prevent a repeat of the devastating Budameru flood that inundated Vijayawada last year. Speaking after inspecting the works on Monday, the Minister noted that 'Operation Budameru' — a permanent and large-scale flood mitigation plan — may take another three to four years to be implemented fully. The government is making all-out efforts to expedite the project in coordination with the Central government and Disaster Management authorities. Until then, immediate safety works for Vijayawada city have already been completed under the Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's direction, he said. The Minister said that a 365 metre-long concrete retaining wall (CC wall) has been constructed to seal three breaches that had occurred along the Budameru bund during last year's flood. Financial clearance for the wall was granted in April, tenders were finalised in May, and the construction was completed in record time ahead of the monsoon season. Alongside the CC wall, the left bund of Budameru is being reinforced by raising its height by half a metre throughout 7 km, he said. Highlighting the issue of the Velagaleru regulator, where floodgates had failed to open during last year's deluge, he said that the previous government had neglected even basic maintenance like greasing the gates. It was only through the help of local farmers and JCB machinery that the gates were opened at the time. Now, all 12 gates of the regulator have been replaced at ₹1.8 crore, he said. Mr. Ramanaidu further said that the current discharge capacity of the old Budameru channel and Enikepadu outfall drain is only 4,000 cusecs, which is being enhanced to 20,000 cusecs. In addition, desilting is being carried out along the 57-kilometre Budameru drain stretch from Enikepadu to Kolleru to ensure smooth water flow, he said. To safely carry floodwater from Kolleru into the sea via the Upputeru channel, desilting work is also under way with ₹9 crore worth of tenders already issued. Irrigation Advisor M. Venkateswara Rao, ENC Narasimhamaurthy, Krishna Delta CE Rambabu, and other senior officials were also present.
The Hindu
18-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
A.P. govt. urged to launch Operation Budameru
CPI State secretary K. Ramakrishna on Wednesday (June 18) demanded that Operation Budameru be taken up on a war footing to provide a permanent solution to flood prevention and that the government immediately convene an all-party meeting on the Godavari–Banakacherla Project. Leaders of a number of political parties met Minister for Water Resources Nimmala Ramanaidu here and said if the government does not take concrete steps to desilt and clean the Budameru stream, regions along its course would remain under threat. Mr. Ramakrishna said the Budameru floods at the beginning of the coalition government's tenure last year caused immense suffering and property loss to thousands. He urged the government to act decisively to avoid another disaster. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's promise to clean Budameru under 'Operation Budameru' remains unfulfilled. The operation would benefit flood-prone areas in NTR, Vijayawada, Krishna, and Eluru districts. Minister Nimmala reportedly said the project would cost ₹8,000 crore and that Central funding was expected. Vijayawada Congress City president Naraharishetty Narasimha Rao said that Centre must be pressured to release funds. Simply stating that preliminary steps are being taken is insufficient; a concrete action plan is needed, he added.
