Budameru causes flooding in Vijayawada again after 20 years (original) (raw)

Vijayawada: For the first time in around

20 years

, many parts of

Vijayawada

city were submerged as incessant

rains

lashed several parts of AP in the past few days.
The bleak picture once again highlights the consequences of encroaching on rivers and lakes. The abrupt cessation of Operation Kolleru two decades ago has resulted in a situation where the rapid expansion of the city and the encroachment on the

Budameru

rivulet’s flood path have left Vijayawada vulnerable to severe flooding.

Budameru, a rivulet that flows through the heart of Vijayawada, has posed a greater threat to the city than the Krishna River, which runs alongside it. The last significant flooding in 2005 caused Budameru to overflow, submerging three-quarters of the city and forcing the postponement of municipal elections. The floodwaters, originating from Khammam district, flowed into Vijayawada with unprecedented force, reaching a discharge of 70,000 cusecs—far above the typical maximum of 11,000 cusecs during the regular season.
In response to the 2005

floods

, local leader Kolli Nageswara Rao led protests demanding a permanent solution to the recurring floods. His efforts prompted then-chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy to visit the city and discuss potential solutions with irrigation officials. A consensus was arrived to divert Budameru’s flow downstream into the Polavaram right canal and plans were made to straighten Budameru’s curves and ensure floodwaters flowed directly to Kolleru Lake. By 2007-08, Budameru’s downstream flow was diverted as part of the Polavaram right canal construction. However, the canal’s design, with a capacity of 37,500 cusecs, proved inadequate for handling floodwaters. Additionally, technical issues within the Vijayawada Thermal Power Station (VTPS) further complicated the situation. Despite proposals to expand the canals, the necessary modifications were never made, leaving Vijayawada at continued risk of flooding.

Over the past 20 years, Vijayawada has seen rapid urban development, particularly in areas like New Rajarajeswari Peta and Nandamuri Nagar, which were previously part of Budameru’s floodplain. The diversion work initiated in 2005 was abandoned, and the bunds built to protect the city were destroyed to make way for housing developments. This disregard for the city’s flood defenses has left it vulnerable once more.
Today, the swelling of Budameru and the encroachments along its flood path continue to threaten Vijayawada. Despite numerous warnings and proposed solutions, local politics and the lack of political will have allowed these problems to persist. The encroachments have not only exacerbated flooding but have also hindered the natural drainage of floodwaters, leaving Vijayawada in a precarious situation once again.