AP Irrigation plans to notify Budameru as River !

 The Andhra Pradesh Irrigation Department has plans to notify Budameru Rivulet as River. According to sources, the officials have made proposal in this regard. Once it is identified as a River like other Rivers Krishna and Godavari, then strict laws and enforcement will be applicable to Budameru. The River Conservancy Act and other River protection measures will come into force once it is recognised as a River. The Center Water Resources Department also will monitor the protection of the River.

The State Irrigation Department is making plans to notify Budameru as a River after taking into consideration recent floods and submerging threat to Vijayawada and its surrounding villages. The recent floods to Budameru forced the state Irrigation department to search all possible necessary steps to avoid the inundation threat. Now the majority of Budameru rivulet flow area has been encroached with permanent constructions. Nearly 3000 houses were built during the last 30 years.

The Budameru rivulet area in the city limits is in a congested position as like a bottleneck. The state government is not in a position to remove the structures. The Budameru modernisation project has been pending with the state government for the last several years. If the Budameru is notified as a River, the state government will get funds from the center to implement the resettlement and rehabilitation operations. The state government has plans to notify one or two major rivulets as Rivers in Godavari districts also. The senior official of the Water Resources Department speaking to this News Paper said that as part of the  modernisation of Krishna River bunds is proposed to enhance the height of river bunds up to 15 meters. The state government has sent a proposal to Center with Rs 8000 crore budget estimations by explaining the recent floods to Prakasam barrage.