Construction of outfall drains in Vijayawada to begin in September: Minister

Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) Ponguru Narayana on Saturday (July 26) said the construction and widening of outfall drains, intended for addressing waterlogging in the city, will begin in September.

outfall drains would be constructed in the city soon to address waterlogging.

After touring the city to inspect outfall drains, he said the construction of outfall drains, taken up at ₹500 crore during the TDP regime between 2014 and 2019, was stopped after the YSRCP came to power, leading to waterlogging. The Minister added that encroachments have come up places where the drains were built.

He inquired with Vijayawada Municipal Corporation officials why the width of the outfall drains in the city is different at different places. He noted that some drains are two feet wide, whereas its width should be 10 feet. He pointed out that encroachments have to be removed and the drains widened.

If any individual loses their house to the drain widening, they will be allotted TIDCO houses, he said. .

The Minister also spoke about encroachments along the Budameru drain in the city. He added that the Irrigation Department has constituted a committee and that it is going to submit a report soon. They are considering widening the drain, the Minister said.

VMC Commissioner Dhyanachandra H.M. and other officials accompanied the Minister.