The Hindu - Andhra Pradesh 18.08.2009

Mayor upset over civic body being sidelined

Special Correspondent

KURNOOL: Mayor S. Raghurami Reddy has been upset over the sidelining of Municipal Corporation in execution of flood bank construction and other works. The government sanctioned an amount of Rs.240 crore for construction of flood banks after the Hundri river deluged the city three years ago.

However, the Irrigation Department was named the executing agency for the bunds. Mr. Raghurami Reddy said the department failed to fix the agency even after two years. Three attempts were made to invite bids but were unsuccessful.

He said the Irrigation Department alone could not execute such a major project as it involved issues concerning urban planning. As per the initial survey, bunds were planned along the Hundri, Tungabhadra and Vakkileru.

Mr. Reddy said the corporation planned to construct multi-purpose flood banks using flood bank tops as roads. According to him, Vijayanagar kings constructed stone wall along Tungabhadra, which saved the city from floods many times. The new banks could be constructed on the old walls using them as base structure.

He suggested that if properly planned and executed, some Rs.30 crore could be saved for roads and beautification works. Kurnool city would never get such large amount for engineering works and the opportunity should not be missed. Mr. Reddy said only the civic body supported by a large force of engineering and sanitary officials would have an idea about the drainage flow. The flood banks would serve no purpose if the drainage flow was blocked into the rivers.

He mooted a proposal for development of boat palace in the middle of Tungabhadra river as a tourist spot.