Operation Budameru: Govt's Plan to Prevent Future Flooding in Vijayawada

The state government is set to launch 'Operation Budameru' soon after the situation in Vijayawada returns to normal, aiming to find a permanent solution to the recurring flooding problem. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu suggested introducing legislation similar to Telangana's 'HYDRAA' law, which targets illegal encroachments along water bodies.

The recent heavy rains caused the Budameru creek to flood, inundating 40% of the city and affecting approximately 2.5 lakh families for over a week. Naidu pointed out that many people suffer due to the actions of a few who encroached on the Budameru's banks. He also criticized the previous government's failure to complete modernization projects that would have increased the rivulet's discharge capacity, a critical factor in preventing such floods.

Naidu announced that a comprehensive survey will be conducted along the Budameru, from its source to its endpoint, to address the issue of encroachments. He vowed that this should be the last time Vijayawada faces such severe flooding, promising strict action against encroachers. The state government plans to implement strict legislation to remove illegal structures along the creek and prevent future flooding.

Operation Budameru will focus on several measures, including increasing the rivulet's discharge capacity to handle flash floods and cloudbursts, and removing encroachments.

The plan also includes:

Upgrading the diversion channel.

Building a reservoir with a 20 TMC ft capacity downstream of the Pulichintala project.

Cleaning up Kolleru Lake by removing fish tanks and restoring its natural contours.

On September 1, the Budameru, a small creek, was overwhelmed by an unprecedented 70,000 cusecs of water, far exceeding its capacity of 14,500 cusecs. This led to 16 breaches along the bunds, causing flash floods in Vijayawada. To prevent such incidents from recurring, the state government is considering fortifying the bunds and building retaining walls in vulnerable areas to avoid overflow.