Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

Modernise Budameru to save crops: Ponnala

VIJAYAWADA: Major and Medium Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah said on Saturday that there was a greater need to modernise and develop the Budameru drain and save the crops of farmers in the areas vulnerable to submergence and flood threat.

When Modernisation Chief Engineer N. Peravadhani and other officials met him in Hyderabad, the Minister ordered them to take every possible step to complete the works on Budameru, according to a statement released here. The Minister also received a report from the technical experts’ committee headed by B.S.N. Reddy. The experts committee visited the city and Budameru drain on July 1.

The committee told the Minister that there was a need to improve the Budameru drain from the Enikepadu regulator to 56th km in Kolleru lake. The width of the drain was 50 metres at some places and 10 metres at others, which was one of the main reasons for the problems being created during floods. The unevenness in the flows of the Budameru would cause waters during floods to enter the agricultural fields in the neighbouring areas and submerge the crops causing losses to farmers. The technical experts committee told the Minister that there was a need to widen the Budameru up to at least 70 to 80 metres. This would create conducive conditions for the flood waters from the Budameru not to enter the farmers’ fields.

Mr. Lakshmaiah ordered the officials to take necessary steps and initiate action for acquiring land, if necessary, to take up these works for the permanent development of the Budameru. He pointed out that if the drain was suitably developed, flood waters would straightaway enter the Kolleru without submerging the crops alongside its course during heavy rains.

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