After recent unprecedented Vijayawada floods many expressed concerns over the safety of the proposed Amaravati capital city as it is on the side of river Krishna. One of the main reasons that the previous YS Jaganmohan Reddy government highlighted was that it cannot withstand massive floods.
Though Amaravati was not affected during recent floods, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is making efforts to ensure that the capital city should be flood-proof. Irrespective of heavy water flow into river Krishna, he is aiming that no flood water should cause damage to the proposed capital city.
In this regard, Chandrababu expressed anger against those spreading fears that Amaravati will not be safe from floods. Recalling that several major cities of India are frequently facing massive floods and havoc, he dared them to advise to change the cities like Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai and Hyderabad. He asked why they are poisoning Amaravati? He recalled that there were floods in Tirupati, Nellore, Kurnool and Rajamahendravaram as well.
The CRDA is said to be preparing key proposals to prevent flooding of Amaravati even if the Krishna river floods. A new plan is being prepared to expand the existing embankment. It is estimated that about Rs.650 crores will be spent for this. From Prakasam Barrage to Vaikuntapuram, it is proposed to strengthen the embankment and divert the embankment in some areas.
Tenders will be called for this. At present, the Krishna River has received a flood of 11.43 lakh cusecs. Even if 15 lakh cusecs comes as part of climate change, it will be designed so that it may not create any problem for Amaravati city.
Apart from this, a tourist area will be developed on the banks of Krishna river. In the past, the farmers here did not give land for land consolidation and the work did not progress as they approached the court. Currently, Minister Dr P Narayana is visiting the Penumaka area and meeting the farmers of the lands that were not given to Pooling earlier.
A two-lane road is being planned to go over the bridge from the barrage. Since there is no problem related to the lands that come under the scope of the Seed Access Road, it will be continued from Venkatapalem to Sitanagaram.
As a part of this, the embankment will be strengthened from Venkatapalem to Harishchandrapuram and Vaikunthapuram. To go to the Secretariat and High Court, Karakatta way will be nearer one. CRDA officials estimate that the traffic problem can also be solved to some extent by expanding the embankment from Prakasam Barrage to Prakruti Ashram in Venkatapalem into four lanes and there will be no problem of land acquisition due to the expansion of the embankment.
