The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) officials built an inefficient drainage system in the city, said the Communist Party of India Marxist city secretary Ch. Babu Rao.
The city roads were submerged due to the continuous rain on Friday and Saturday. The CPI(M) team went on an inspection tour of the various areas and came to the conclusion that lack of a proper drainage system was the main culprit. “It was the negligence of the VMC officials that had led to this stagnant water situation everywhere,” said Mr. Babu Rao.
The underground drainage systems constructed under the JNNURM scheme were of no use, he said. Even main roads like Bandar Road were flooded and public had to face a lot of problems to reach their houses on Friday night, he observed. He blamed the VMC officials for the lack of a proper drainage system.
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Many of the outlets for rainwater to be directed out of the city were overflowing and clogged, said the party secretary. The VMC officials’ careless attitude towards such issues had now led to city getting submerged even during a small amount of rain, he observed.
CPI(M)’s advice
The VMC should arrange for motors in all the submerged areas to drain out the stagnant water, he demanded. The CPI(M) secretary advised the VMC to follow the adage “Prevention is better than cure” in future.
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He said that VMC should come up with a permanent solution to the drainage system and that meanwhile they should provide monetary support and food supply to those affected by the water. The secretary was accompanied by leaders D. Vishnu, U.V. Rama Raju, P. Sambhi Reddy, and B. Ramana in this tour of H.B. Colony, Rotary Nagar, L.B.S Nagar and Kothapet.