GUNTUR: The final master plan of Amaravati envisages converting illegal structures on the Krishna river conservation area into residential zones. The master plan has proposed aligning the Krishna river bund from Prakasam Barrage to the CM’s guesthouse (where AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is presently staying), which would convert the big structures on the river conservation area into a residential area. Anti-LPS farmers have been objecting to the alignment of the bund, alleging that the government was protecting illegal structures belonging to TD leaders with the alignment.
Farmers G. Naresh Reddy and others alleged that if the government changed the river bund alignment, it would be a threat to the River Krishna in the future. They added that the 500 meters to 1 km area from the river to the bund was helpful for villagers during natural calamities but if the bund was brought forward, floodwaters would inundate the villages. They also demanded removal of 26 illegal structures on the river conservation area.
The farmers also alleged that they had been living on the outskirts of the Penumka village, within 100 meters of the Grama Kantham, for the past 50 years and hence had applied to the CRDA to identify their houses and lands as R-1, but the CRDA had refused. They said that they had submitted objections through form 9.2 of LPS of CRDA one year ago but till date the CRDA has not replied. Meanwhile CPM Capital Committee convener Ch. Babu Rao expressed fear the all areas, from old Amaravati to Undavalli, including the Seed Capital area and all colonies on the banks of Krishna river in Vijayawada city would be marooned during floods if the bund alignment was changed. He alleged that the Singapore planners had changed the bund alignment to save illegal structures of the political leaders of TD and BJP and demanded continuation of the present river bund without any changes.
