Andhra Pradesh: Efforts on to strengthen flood banks along Godavari river
Vijayawada: The water resources department is initiating steps to strengthen the flood banks at vulnerable points to ensure safety to the farmers and others in erstwhile Godavari districts.
This is in anticipation of floods in Godavari in the second spell of this rainy season after August 15.
The river’s flood banks are spread over 546km, of which a distance of 326km falls under the Konaseema area. The department has identified 10 vulnerable points like K Gangavaram, Kalla Sundarapalli, Bobbilanka, Kumaradevam, Nagullanka etc and mobilised flood materials like casuarina and bamboo sticks, sand bags etc to protect the flood banks from getting affected when the river witnessed heavy floods.
The authorities say that the Kalla Sundarapalli flood bank faced danger even with a flow of two lakh cusecs of floodwater while the Bobbilanka flood bank faced soil erosion and the Nagullanka flood bank experienced an overflow of floodwater.
In the first spell of floods, the river witnessed a discharge of over 15 lakh cusecs of floodwater from the Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage at Dowleswaram. As the rainfall was predicted in upper catchment areas like Maharashtra and Telangana, they anticipated a second spell of floods to the river.
Water resources officials say that the district collectors have granted funds for strengthening the flood banks in their respective areas so as to avoid any breach to the bunds, erosion or even overflow of floodwater. This was for fear these may cause inundation of fields or habitations located in low-lying areas.
Alongside, there’s a proposal to develop the barrage with 175 crest gates at a cost of Rs 150 crore under the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project, with financial support from the World Bank, the Centre and the state government.
The authorities would take up repair or replacement of the crest gates based on the need to make all the gates strong enough to withstand heavy floods, so that the barrage would remain in a good condition for 30 to 40 years.
Nearly 15 lakh acres of agricultural fields get water for cultivation mainly in the Godavari districts due to the presence of the barrage.
Godavari river conservator Kasi Visweswara Rao said, “We have been closely monitoring the flood banks as the Godavari river starts having floods. So far, there are no issues. Our personnel are keeping all requisite flood-resistant material to strengthen weak bunds.”
