Irrigation expert T Lakshmi Narayana suggested that keeping in view of the meager financial resources remaining with the state government, the center should extend full support in the flood relief activities. Sparking at a meeting on ‘Budameru lessons’, organised by Jana Chaitanya Vedika in Guntur, he deplored that Budameru floods have caused immense damage to the people like never before.
He said that the Budameru natural flow path to Kolleru lake should be paved, the encroachments should be removed, and the proposed capacity of 37500 cusecs to the Krishna river through the Budameru diversion channel should be implemented on war-foot.
He pointed out that in the combined Krishna district, Krishna river catchment area is 45% while Budameru is 48%. However, he expressed concern that Budameru has been ignored by successive governments. While there are 11 locks at the Velagaleru regulator, he said four are not working and there is no proper staff.
If a reservoir with a storage capacity of 20 TMC is constructed at Vaikuntapuram in the lower part of Pulichintala, Lakshmi Narayana said that then the flood water can be stored. He said that if water is transferred from Vaikuntapuram reservoir to Nagarjuna Sagar right canal, it will help the connection of Godavari, Krishna and Penna rivers.
If the Siddeswaram dam on the Krishna river above Srisailam and the Gundrevula reservoir with a capacity of 20 TMC on the upper part of the Sunkesula dam on the Tungabhadra, which meets the Krishna river, water can be provided to the drought-prone areas of Rayalaseema, he added.
Former minister Dokka Manikya Vara Prasad wanted to remove the encroachments blocking the natural flow of water. He deplored that during the YCP regime drainage projects failed to get necessary priority and very little allocations were made in the budget.
Jana Chaitanya Vedika President Vallamreddy Lakshmana Reddy presiding over the meeting suggested establishing a Hydra-like organization in Andhra Pradesh and remove encroachment of canals, brooks, lakes and rivers on a war footing.
He felt that abrupt cancellation of 198 irrigation works by the previous YCP regime at once on September 8, 2020 mainly led to present havoc at Budameru. He said that priority should be given to small and medium irrigation projects and wooden dams.
Political analyst Velagapudi Gopalakrishna Prasad said that political leaders and contractors colluding and committing corruption have become a vicious circle and are causing a decline in quality and standards.