The Hindu 02.11.2010
GVMC caught unawares
Staff Reporter
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Plans for providing an outlet by engaging a consultant going on |
Marooned: The entry of the Vijayanagar Gate of Naval Dockyard marooned
on Monday.
VISAKHAPATNAM: The flooding of Sheelanagar for the second time in two
months has caught the municipal officials unawares. With storm water
drains encroached upon and construction coming up in tank-beds the water
had no outlet and leading to flooding of Harijan Jaggayyapalem with
about 800 houses.
The area was flooded in the last week of August and severe problems
faced by the residents were raised in the municipal corporation general
body meeting by corporators G. Amarnath and G.V. Krishna Rao.
On the instructions of the Mayor, plans for providing an outlet by
engaging a consultant has been going on. But the unexpected rain had led
to flooding once again.
Temporarily water flow was speeded up using earth moving machines.
“But I urged Municipal Commissioner V.N. Vishnu during his visit on
Monday to complete the process at least by the next rainy season,” said
Mr. Amarnath.
Engineering officials says a 3 km-long drain has to be formed for
providing an outlet for which 20-ft width of land from two site owners
has to be taken. Both of them have agreed to give the land, it was
learnt. Temporarily a breach has been formed to flush out the water.
The Rs.50 lakh allotted three years ago for the work is not
sufficient and at least Rs.2 crore is required, say officials. The
amount is sought to be raised from the flood damage funds. Besides, the
drain passing through GAIL has to be cleared for free passage of water.
Small vents
The Gangavaram port’s compound wall had led to submergence of HB
Colony, Dairyfarm Colony and Rickshaw workers Colony by water from
Meghadrigedda reservoir.
The reason for the flooding is that the vents provided are too small.
“Where a 20 m wide vent is required only 2 m is provided leading to
flooding,” said an official.
The corporation has prepared a Rs.231 crore permanent plan for a
22-km drain for the Kaniti Balancing Reservoir catchment area under the
Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Plan. But it did not
materialise.
To tide over the situation, the corporation plans a scaled down
version of a mere 6 km estimated to cost Rs.50 crore and plans to take
it up with the support of Gangavaram Port and Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.
