The Hindu 21.06.2010
VMC plans ‘box culvert' in One Town area
Staff Reporter
VIJAYAWADA: The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) is planning construction of an additional outfall drain in the One Town to meet future requirements.
The corporation has prepared a detailed project report (DPR) for constructing a ‘box culvert' parallel to the existing outfall drain near Nizam gate. It is one of the components of modernisation of drainage system in the One Town.
The VMC has asked the State government to consider the One Town problem “as a special case” and release funds required for it. The officials are waiting for the response from the State government.
The corporation is also planning to submit a proposal to the Central government for taking up the outfall drain under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) programme, sources say.
Heavy load
The new outfall drain is mooted in view of “heavy load” on Nizam gate and Gandhi hill outfall drains, which were constructed during the British rule. These outfall drains are not sufficient for flushing out the storm water swiftly. It may be recalled that these drains were choked last year leading to inundation of One Town.
It is learnt that the Railways informed the VMC that it would construct the proposed drain if the requisite amount was deposited to it. The VMC, however, has not yet approached it. Generally, the Railways take up construction if the bridges, flyovers, road over bridges etc pass through its property, officials explain.
Mayor M.V. Ratna Bindu reportedly brought the issue to the notice Animal Husbandry Minister K. Parthasarathy and urged him to use his good offices for the release of funds.
Storm drain
The VMC is also planning to construct a storm drain from Jenda Chettu centre to eastern main canal of the Krishna. The objective of this storm water drain is to prevent the inundation of One Town when it rains heavily.
The VMC estimated that the outfall drain would cost Rs. 1.15 crore while the storm water drain would cost 1.85 crore. The new storm drain would ease the burden on the proposed box culvert also, the officials say.
