The Budameru rivulet mo-dernisation works have been pending for more th-an a decade. The irrigation department has divided the modernisation works into five packages and has been inviting tenders from the contractors to allot wo-rks to check the flooding of colonies in the northern part of Vijayawada.

The irrigation department proposed diversion works from Velagaleru upstream of Vijayawada to Nandivada downstream of Vijayawada at a cost of Rs.190 crore. The package amount changes every year. Due to Budameru flooding Ajit Singh Nagar, Payakapuram, Kandrika, Rajarajeswaripet colonies in the city and Patapadu and Nunna villages on the outskirts of the city, normal life is disrupted.

The irrigation department decided to modernise the Budameru rivulet to divert floodwaters. Due to encroachments in Ajit Singh Nagar and New RR Pet, contractors are not coming forward to take up works as the encroachers enjoy the support of the major political parties.

The Vijayawada municipal corporation is not able to remove encroachments on the banks of the Budameru in Ajit Singh Nagar and other colonies.

A senior officer in the irrigation department said that the last date for filing tenders for the Budameru modernisation works is March 3, 2012.

He said that government was ready to sanction works if contractors come forward. Constr-uction is not picking up in Kandrika and Patapadu due to the threat of Budameru.