Encroachments On Drains Of Vijayawada To Be Removed: Narayana
“This leads to additional problems. Hence, such encroachments will be removed”: Ponguru Narayana
VIJAYAWADA: Municipal Administration and Urban Development minister Ponguru Narayana on Saturday underlined that encroachments on drains in Vijayawada are a significant concern, as they lead to rainwater stagnating. “This leads to additional problems. Hence, such encroachments will be removed,” he declared.
The minister has already directed the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) to identify and remove encroachments on outfall drains across the city, which join the Krishna River. He emphasised that the government’s goal is not to trouble the public, but to prevent flooding and ensure a smooth drainage system when the next monsoon arrives.
On the day, Narayana went on a whirlwind tour of Vijayawada city, inspecting several critical locations affected by wastewater drainage, including Gunadala Pulleti Katta, Darsipeta, Fakirgudem, areas under the Benz Circle flyover and the VMC Satellite Station at Auto Nagar.
He witnessed illegal structures, including houses and compound walls, that are obstructing the flow of drainage water in several areas. “Areas where there had been 10-foot-wide drains have been narrowed down to just two feet due to encroachments,” he observed.
The minister instructed VMC commissioner H.M. Dhyanachandra to mark these encroachments and begin the drain widening works immediately.
He acknowledged that residents who lose their homes due to widening of drains will be allotted TIDCO houses. “We are not here to trouble the poor, but will remove the problems troubling them. Local representatives would be consulted to sensitively handle rehabilitation in affected areas,” he assured.
Narayana recalled that during 2014–2019, Chandrababu Naidu-led government had taken up a ₹500 crore drainage project, 55 of which had been completed. However, the previous YSRC government stalled the remaining work, leading to persistent water logging problems. He underlined that drainage improvement work will resume in September using VMC and APCRDA funds and completed within six months.
Regarding the Budameru stream encroachments, the minister remarked that a technical committee formed by the Water Resources department is examining the situation.
VMC commissioner Dhyanchandra explained that the committee is evaluating whether to widen the embankment or increase its height. A final decision will be taken in coordination with irrigation officials once the committee submits its report, he stated.
Those who accompanied the minister included Public Health engineer-in-chief Prabhakar and VMC chief engineer Srinath Reddy, apart from other officials and local public representatives.