Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has instructed the officials to be on full alert in the wake of heavy rains in the state. In a review meeting held at the camp office on Wednesday, he directed that people in low-lying areas be evacuated to safer places. He cautioned that the flood flow to the Prakasam Barrage is increasing due to the lifting of the Nagarjuna Sagar and Pulichintala gates.
The CM suggested that the areas downstream should be kept informed about sudden flood flows from the streams and bends in the Krishna river basin. All arrangements should be made to evacuate people in the areas downstream of the Prakasam Barrage, especially those in low-lying areas. The CM instructed the officials to take immediate steps to remove water from roads and low-lying areas in urban areas.
On this occasion, the officials explained to the CM that the work on the Budameru diversion channel is being completed on a war footing. He said that the water coming due to the rain in the upper areas is being discharged into the Krishna river. On this occasion, the CM granted permission to undertake the construction of Budameru-Velagaleru UT at a cost of Rs. 40 crore as part of the flood management work.
Officials informed the CM that 5 lakh cusecs of flood water is likely to reach the Prakasam Barrage by Thursday. It was stated that 3.09 lakh cusecs of water is currently being released from the Prakasam Barrage through 35 gates and 5 thousand cusecs of water has been released into the canal.
Ministers Nimmala Ramanaidu, Vangalapudi Anitha, CS Vijayanand and others participated in this meeting. The CM instructed the officials to move four TMCs per day to fill the Somasila and Kandaleru projects to make good use of the water coming from the upstream. He suggested that efficient water management should be done so that the flood water is not wasted and used properly in the sea.
Chandrababu said that the rain that fell in the upper areas including Mylavaram is reaching Budameru and Velagaleru in large quantities and this water is being discharged into the Krishna River. He has ordered the officials of the CM Water Resources Department to remove the horseshoe and the culvert to allow the water flow in the canals due to heavy rains.
He suggested that the canals and ponds should be strengthened to prevent them from getting clogged. He said that the district collectors should also be alert from time to time on the rain situation in the districts and provide immediate information to the farmers.
