Officials ordered to identify encroachments along Budameru: Collector

Vijayawada: NTR district collector Dr G. Srijana has directed the departments of survey, land records, irrigation, revenue, and city planning of the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) to jointly conduct a field survey to identify encroachments along the Budameru stream and submit a comprehensive report, including the corresponding survey numbers.

Dr Srijana chaired a meeting with officials from the concerned departments at the district collectorate on Wednesday to discuss the measures required for the first phase of identifying encroachments along Budameru.

She informed officials that the State Government, led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, is resolved to remove all illegal encroachments under 'Operation Budameru,' following record rainfall in the catchment areas and unprecedented flooding in the Budameru stream, which submerged half of Vijayawada for nearly ten days, causing large-scale destruction.

"Approximately 43,000 cusecs of water, including floodwaters from breaches, entered Vijayawada, submerging many low-lying areas and affecting over 200,000 families due to the Budameru floods," Dr Srijana said.

Emphasising the need for a permanent solution to the flood issues in Vijayawada, she stated that the government is determined to remove all illegal encroachments on a war footing under 'Operation Budameru.' She also highlighted the importance of having a status report on the extent of the Budameru stream, both in urban and rural areas, in collaboration with the irrigation separtment.

Joint collector Dr Nidhi Meena, survey and land records AD Srinivasu, VMC chief city planner G.V.G.S.V. Prasad, and others were present at the meeting.