Operation Budameru’ to start soon to prevent floodingGovt plans to construct TIDCO houses to shift 6,000 families residing on Budameru bundPNS n Vijayawada

Minister for Home Affairs and Disaster Management Vangalapudi Anitha and Minister for Water Resources Dr Nimmala Ramanaidu have held the previous YSRCP government responsible for the flooding of Budameru Rivulet and the subsequent submersion of Ajith Singh Nagar in floodwaters. They alleged that the then Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy failed to implement effective flood control and drainage measures, besides preventing encroachments in Budameru in Vijayawada.
During the Question Hour in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council on Wednesday, chaired by Chairman Koyye Moshen Raju, Dr Nimmala Ramanaidu and Vangalapudi Anitha criticised the previous YSRCP government as well as former CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. As the Budameru Diversion Channel (BDC) remained incomplete, the TDP government sanctioned Rs.464 crore during their five-year period, they said.
Minister Ramanaidu said that the YSRCP government completely neglected the BDC. Eighty per cent of its work was completed by 2019. Additionally, his government in 2019 sanctioned work from Enikepadu Under Tunnel (UT) to Kolleru by dividing five packages, soon after came to rule, the YSRCP cancelled the work by issuing G.O.365. As a result, the flood water was unable to flow downstream of the Enikepadu UT, he alleged.
Meanwhile, Ramanaidu said that the government is planning to start ‘Operation Budameru’ to prevent further flooding. However, as many as 6,000 families are residing on the Budameru bund within Vijayawada city limits and these are obstructions to the widening of Budameru. So, the government has proposed to build TIDCO houses for these people and later the ‘Budameru Operation’ would be started, he added.
During the Question Hour, a heated exchange occurred between the Home Minister and YSRCP member Md Ruhullah concerning financial assistance for victims of the Budameru flood. The confrontation arose when Anitha responded to a question posed by Ruhullah, who made remarks that provoked her. She said it was a flash flood and for that, the YSRCP should be responsible as it failed to complete the BDC to divert the flood water into River Krishna.
She said that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu stayed at the NTR district collectorate and monitored the entire flood situation. Also, the government provided financial assistance for all victims irrespective of political parties and provided insurance even for autos and two-wheelers, she said.
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