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Poor drainage makes life miserable in Rajamahendravaram
Much of the city population is suffering due to frequent inundation during rainy season since the city lacks a proper drainage system. Actually, the city’s drainage system which spreads over 630 km-long including 30 km-long major drains was designed during the British rule to cater to the needs of people. There are two
Rajamahendravaram: Even though, Rajamahendravaram is hailed as the cultural capital of the State, it has failed to live up to the big expectations in terms of clean drinking water and proper drainage system. Elsewhere in the State, people welcome monsoon season, but, for the people of Rajamahendravaram, a monsoon is a nightmare.
Much of the city population is suffering due to frequent inundation during rainy season since the city lacks a proper drainage system. Actually, the city’s drainage system which spreads over 630 km-long including 30 km-long major drains was designed during the British rule to cater to the needs of people. There are two major drains in the city including Nalla Channel and Ava Channel. About 60 Million Litres per Day (MLD) sewage was being released into drains in the city and there is only one sewage water plant near Ramakrishna Theatre in the city with the capacity of treating 30 MLD of sewage.
However, due to lack of maintenance, this sewage treatment plant is able to treat only 10 MLDs of sewage coming from areas like Deluxe centre, V L Puram and Morampudi. Another major factor that is causing the inundation is the unequal contour levels. Rajamahendravaram is situated at a lesser height in comparison with River Godavari. So, whenever the water level raises in the River, the adjacent areas on the river like Aryapuram, Sitampeta, Thummalova and Seshayya Metta will be submerged as River Godavari does not receive sewage water during flood season.
During rainy season, rain water from upland area submerge areas like Thadithota, Morampudi, V L Puram, Deluxe centre, ILTD junction, Alcot Gardens, Balaji Peta and Kambala tank due to improper sewage woes. The city has been suffering for many years, since they were no plans to set right defunct drainage system. About 10 years ago, the then Congress government proposed a plan with Rs 195 crore to cleanse the drainage system with JNNURM Scheme and decided to divide the drainage system into eight zones to divert water flowing to some low-lying areas.
Consulting Engineers India formulated an action plan to divide the city into eight zones and to construct three sewage treatment plants in Katheru, Dowleshwaram and Kotilingala Petra. But it failed to materialise. Due to lack of proper drainage system in place, the citizens of Rajamahendravaram are drinking contaminated water. Out of 60 MLDs of sewage water, only 10 MLDs of water was being treated before releasing into the river. The remaining 50 MLDs of water was being released into the river untreated.
Sewage water from one of the major drains, Ava channel was being released into river just ahead of the agriculture canal at Dowleswaram. Coming to Nalla channel, the sewage water being released just before the intake point through which drinking water would be distributed after filtration. Before Godavari Pushkaralu, National Pollution Control Board conducted a survey and made it clear that water could not be consumed as it was contaminated due to release of untreated water into river. Godavari needs cleansing very badly and it is estimated that about Rs 650 crore was needed to the lay underground drainage system.
By:Benjamin
