Officials take up bund repair

Atmakur: Following the expose by The Hans India of the 20-foot-long cavity to Siddapuram Cheruvu bund, the irrigation department officials were on Saturday forced to act in a hurry. The officials were pulled up by Srisailam MLA Budda Rajasekhar Reddy, during a surprise inspection of the spot, along with the department’s top brass.

The MLA questioned the officials as to what they were doing in the light of the serious mishap. He called for immediate steps while taking the issue to the notice of Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, telephoning him from the spot. In response, Rao directed the officials to take up repairs on a war- footing.

Executive engineer Pulla Rao informed Reddy that if the water level goes up by five feet the cavity would turn into a breach and pose a threat to the bund itself. A farmer even entered the cavity to explain the prevailing situation.

There is a threat of the water level rising in view of the floods following heavy rains lashing the area, thereby posing a serious threat to the bund. Engineering experts have expressed the view that the cavity was formed following an underground crack in the bund, which has been built by the British, after it was altered for taking up a lift irrigation scheme. Farmers allege that such problems are arising because of the callous attitude of contractors and the department engineers.