Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development, Dr P Narayana, said that the government is considering HYDRA type mechanism to clear encroachments on the irrigation systems in Andhra Pradesh. The minister said that the government is considering the HYDRA, which is now clearing encroachments on water bodies in Hyderabad.
The mechanism would be introduced in the state first and then start clearing encroachments on Budameru rivulet, the Minister said. He further said that the government would clear the encroachments on Budameru from its origin to the Kolleru Lake.
The Minister alleged that the YSR Congress government in the last five years had encouraged encroachment of water bodies in the state. Several YSR Congress leaders have encroached the canals, tanks and rivers in the last five years, the Minister said.
He further alleged that the YSR Congress government had completely ignored the development of water bodies in the last five years. He said that the present government is considering to include the encroachments in the urban town planning department. The officials of the town planning would be held responsible for any encroachments of water bodies in the cities, the minister said.
The Minister said that the previous TDP government had started Budameru development works in 2018. However, the successive YSR Congress ignored the works and stopped them in the midway. This had reflected in the recent floods to Vijayawada city, the Minister said.
Dr Narayana refuted the allegation that Amaravati was also inundated in the flood water. He said that the YSR Congress leaders were spreading false news about Amaravati. He said that Amaravati would be the world class city with perfect planning. The state government would take all steps to build Amaravati as world class capital, the minister said.
The Minister further said that the government would take up survey of all canals, irrigation tanks, flood tanks and other water bodies in the state. The officials would visit every water body and examine whether there are any encroachments on them or not. If encroachments are found, the government would remove them, Dr Narayana said.
