VIJAYAWADA: In a major relief to Krishna Lanka residents, the State government has given approval for the construction of the third phase of a 1,200 metre-long flood retaining wall along river Krishna between Padmavati Ghat and Kanaka Durga Varadhi.Works will be taken up at a cost of Rs 137.85 crore and tenders will be invited by the irrigation department officials soon. Sources said around 50,000 people reside downstream Prakasam Barrage.
For the last few years, low-lying areas such as Chalasani Nagar, Krishna Lanka, Geetha Nagar, Ranigarithota, Balaji Nagar, Dwaraka Nagar and Bramarambapuram get inundated following discharge of surplus water from Prakasam Barrage. The first phase of the retaining wall works for a length of 2.28 km between Ramalingeswara Nagar and Koti Nagar were completed during the previous government.
However, heavy inflows into the river inundated the localities not covered by the retaining wall forcing the authorities concerned to shift hundreds of families to rehabilitation centres set up at Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation (IGMC) Stadium and Girls High School in Patamata.
Taking a serious note of the issue, the State government laid the foundation for the second phase of 1,560 metre-long retaining wall works between Koti Nagar and Tarakarama Nagar in March 2021.The project was taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 125 crore. The project provided relief to 31,000 resident of Krishna Lanka, Bhupesh Gupta Nagar, Ranigarithota, Balaji Nagar, Dwaraka Nagar, Bhramaramba Nagar and other habitations along the river.
The 8.9 metre-high and 3 feet-wide wall will be able to protect the areas against floodwaters gushing at 12,000 cusecs.Vijayawada irrigation circle superintendent engineer Sesham Tirumala Rao said that a few days ago, the completion of retaining wall works will provide a respite to Randev Nagar, Gautami Nagar, Nehru Nagar, Dwaraka Nagar, Bhupesh Gupta Nagar and Tarakaramanagar.Tenders will be invited soon and the contractor will collect samples for soil testing and acquire the required land soon, the superintendent engineer added.