Doubts flood Andhra capital
Singapore planners recommend platform level of area that hosts downtown, offices, gateway
By : u. sudhakar reddy
Update: 2015-07-22 06:24 GMT
Hyderabad: The master plan of the AP capital area reveals that the Seed Development Area that covers Lingayapalem, Uddandarayunipalem, Tallayapalem and a few other villages, is relatively higher than the mean sea level and the reported inundation of rivers Krishna and Kondaveeti Vagu.
However, the Singapore planners have stated that at present it is not possible to determine the actual area of inundation based onthe existing data though the satellite imagery and data is accurate.
They have suggested measures to further protect the capital city seed area from flooding by providing diversion drains, channeling storm water along the boundaries of the site into Krishna River.
Suggesting further studies, the planners have observed that there are two possible causes of inundation at the Seed Development area: fluvial flow from the Krishna River and runoff from the Kondaveeti Vagu.
The Singapore planners have recommended a platform level of seed area that will host the downtown, government core and gateway, to be at +25m AMSL. This is based on the levels of the existing villages in the catchment as these villages have not been affected by the annual, normal inundation.
Uddandarayunipalem Lanka will have a waterfront and city park, proposed at a minimum of +26m AMSL as the island will not be protected by a bund. The planners said that the actual increase in platform levels are subject to a more detailed hydrological and hydraulic analysis of the Kondaveeti Vagu.
“The Seed Development area is located within the Kondaveeti Vagu catchment. Kondaveeti Vagu is a tributary of Krishna River, with a catchment area of approximately 453 sq. km. The maximum flood level of Krishna River at Prakasam Barrage (approximately 9 km downstream) is +21.7m above mean sea level. The Kondaveeti Vagu has a reported inundation level of +20.0m AMSL during the monsoon. This inundation occurs two-three times a year,” said planners.
The plan states that an existing bund currently protects the Seed Development area from high water levels of Krishna River. The Seed Development area is relatively high, and slopes gently from west to east. Based on the digital elevation maps provided by CRDA, the ground level at the highest point in the west is +26m above mean sea level, whereas the lowest ground is in the southeast area.
Based on satellite imagery and topographical surveys, the ground levels at the Seed Development are higher than the reported inundation level."
Go phase-wise: Experts
The Singapore government has recommended to the AP government to adopt phasing nine follow up action plans for capital infrastructure construction as part of implementation strategies.
In the first phase called Catalyse, in the first 10 years, the focus will be on urban development and infrastructure project. Phase 2 will focus on monetising urban development including transport infrastructure, botanical gardens and the third phase on sustaining goals including downtown commercial and eastern business park development.
Phase 4 includes city wetland park, multi-disciplinary university, mixed user residential clusters and gateway commercial node. Phase 5 will have an iconic waterfront and island cluster, international convention centre, sports hub.