Kolleru, Yeleru Receive Heavy Inflows: 18 Villages Affected

Kakinada: The Kolleru lake and Yeleru Reservoir have received heavy inflows from other water resources, prompting the district administration to alert the people in the region on Monday.

The floodwaters from Budameru, Tammileru and Ramileru were flowing into Kolleru lake, inundating 18 villages in Eluru and West Godavari districts. Another six villages in Eluru district may be affected due to the flow of excess water.

Villages like Bankupeta and Sunnampudi in Kalidindi mandal, Kothada and Panchakalamarri in Kaikaluru mandal, Komatilanka, Kalakarru and Pedayaganamilli in Eluru Rural mandal, Gogunta, Koniki, Sakala Kothapalli and Rallapallivari Palem in Pedapadu mandal have been affected. The waters from Budameru and Ramileru end up in Pedapadu mandal villages.

The district administration has identified five villages -- Pothunuru in Denduluru mandal, Agadala Lanka and Chettanppadu in Bhimadolu mandal and Amudalapalli and Thokalapalli in Nidamarru mandal – citing a possible flood threat.

Siddapuram and Chinnamillipadu villages in Akividu mandal of West Godavari district have been flooded. Traffic has been suspended for villages like Penumakalanka, Kothadilanka, Takkellapudi, Unikidi and Nuchimilli. These villages remain cut off.

A relief camp was set up at Unikidi village but inhabitants of the remaining four villagers refused to come to safer places. Eluru revenue divisional officer Kajavali told Deccan Chronicle that essential commodities were supplied to 300 families in these villages. Some 1200 families have been affected due to the Kolleru lake’s overflowing.

Water has been released from Budameru. However, the water levels there have receded and there is no immediate flood threat from it. However, due to excess water flow from Tammileru and Ramileru, the villages in Pedapadu mandal are hit.

He said weed has been removed at Salt Creek and this arrested inundation of the nearby villages. “The Kolleru waters are stable at 3.4 metres.”

Some 4,700 cusecs of water from Tammileru and 4,500 cusecs from Ramileru were discharged downstream. An alert has been sounded.

Meanwhile, the Yeleru reservoir was filled with 23.23tmc of water against its capacity of 24.11tmc. Some 46,405 cusecs of water are flowing to the reservoir from upstream rivulets and canals, of which 25,265 cusecs were discharged downstream.

Kakinada district collector Shan Mohan requested the people of low-lying areas under Yeleru reservoir to move to safer places. He advised them to contact tahsildars for assistance.

He convened a meeting with officials on Monday evening and asked them to guard against any weakening of the bunds that could cause breaches, amid predictions of heavy rains. Old buildings are being identified and residents have been alerted. Old hostel buildings would evacuate their students.

West Godavari collector Nagarani visited Siddapuram and Chinnamillipadu villages in Akiveedu mandals to take stock of the flood situation. She asked officials to alert the people of the Kolleru-affected villages.

Undi MLA Raghu Ramakrishnam, Kaikaluru MLA Kamineni Srinivas and others also visited the affected areas along with the collector. The MLAs said the waters were now flowing freely into the Kolleru lake due to removal of weeds.