Post flood, Kodad locals seek HYDRAA-like action

Suryapet:Following floods caused by choked nalas and encroached irrigation tanks, the people of Kodad are demanding HYDRAA-type demolition of illegal constructions.

Even though not located near any river or canal, Kodad was one of the worst-affected due to the recent spell of heavy rains because of massive encroachments of irrigation tanks and nalas.

Kodad has high land prices due to its location adjacent the Hyderabad-Vijayawada NH-65. The municipality is located 43 km from the district headquarters of Suryapet and about 175 km from Hyderabad.

Several colonies were submerged and two persons washed away in the floods in Kodad town. Floodwater overran NH-65, disrupting connectivity between Hyderabad and Vijayawada for four days. Floodwater entered houses in Sri Shirdi Sainagar, Nayanagar, Jahnavinagar and Teachers’ Colony. Water also entered the office of Kodad municipality.

Constructions in the full tank level (FTL) and on the buffer zones of three irrigation tanks — Pedda Cheruvu, Chinna Cheru and Erra Cheruvu — and their nalas was stated to be the main reason for the flooding.

According to the official records, 300 acres of Pedda Cheruvu were encroached upon. Houses, apartments, clubs and other buildings have come up in its FTL. The 720 acre-Pedda Cheruvu has shrunk to 420 acres.

The situation is not different in Chinna Cheruvu and Erra Cheruvu. Constructions have encroached on nalas of these three irrigation tanks in the town.

After the floods, officials of Kodad municipality set up a board at Pedda Cheruvu cautioning people not to take up constructions in the FTL area.

Social activist Podugu Hussein said a committee set up by then district collector Ali Murtaza Rizvi had conducted a survey on Pedda Cheruvu in 2009 and submitted a report on its FTL. Based on it, illegal constructions in the areas of FTL should be removed by the municipal authorities, he added.

BJP town secretary Duggi Venkateshwarlu said the earlier government took up desilting of Pedda Cheruvu at a cost of `5 crore, but did not taken up restoration of feed channels.

Jalagam Sudheer, a social activist, alleged that some persons dumped wastes in the FTL area to level the ground and took up constructions. The municipal authorities ignored their lake grab.

Kodad municipal commissioner Rama Devi said the administration had initiated measures for protection of irrigation tanks. Stringent action would be taken against those who are found dumping waste in the irrigation tanks including on Pedda Cheruvu, she said.