DISHA Committee member N. V. V. Vinod said the civic authorities had responded promptly to the grievance he had raised with the Deputy Chief Minister.
Kakinada: The Kakinada Municipal Corporation (KMC) has accelerated desilting of major drains across the city ahead of the monsoon following instructions from Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan.
KMC has identified 23 major drains covering nearly 69 km for desilting to ensure the free flow of rainwater and prevent waterlogging. The works, estimated to cost ₹1.90 crore, have been awarded to five contractors, who are deploying JCBs and tractors.
According to officials, the drive gained momentum after Jana Sena leader Nandamuri Veera Venkata Vinod raised the issue of poor drainage during the Deputy Chief Minister's recent interaction with the public in Kakinada.
KMC superintending engineer P. Venkata Rao told Deccan Chronicle that the desilting programme had begun about a month ago and was expedited following the Deputy Chief Minister's visit. He said workers were removing silt, plastic waste and other debris clogging the drains to ensure smooth flow of water during the rainy season.
He said the expenditure would be met from the KMC's general funds and stressed that quality standards would be maintained throughout the works.
DISHA Committee member N. V. V. Vinod said the civic authorities had responded promptly to the grievance he had raised with the Deputy Chief Minister. He said desilting had begun along the Main Road, with drain slabs being removed to facilitate cleaning and prevent water stagnation. He added that local residents and traders had welcomed the initiative and urged the corporation to continue regular maintenance to keep the Smart City clean.
