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Flooding woes haunt Gnanapuram residents
In an attempt to resolve the inundation issue of low lying area Gnanapuram, Municipal Commissioner M Hari Narayanan directed the civic staff concerned to construct a culvert on Yerri Gedda drainage, according to sources. But will the new structure become a reality this monsoon? Fear-struck residents of Gnanapuram, which falls under 44th ward, ask the same question.
Visakhapatnam: In an attempt to resolve the inundation issue of low lying area Gnanapuram, Municipal Commissioner M Hari Narayanan directed the civic staff concerned to construct a culvert on Yerri Gedda drainage, according to sources. But will the new structure become a reality this monsoon? Fear-struck residents of Gnanapuram, which falls under 44th ward, ask the same question.
It is a common phenomenon whenever the city receives heavy rainfall, for sure, Gnananpuram submerges in water. The locals, however, admit that the situation had changed over a period as Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) authorities took up timely measures to avoid flooding.
But, they also point out these initiatives were not permanent solutions.Sewage water of Seethammadara, Akkayapalem, Thatichetlapalem, Railway New Colony, Gnanapuram and other places flows through a channel of Yerri Gedda drainage system, which is adjacent to Gnannapuram. Before entering into the sea near Vizag Port, the waste water passes through three culverts near the end point of Yerri Gedda.
Of the other two culverts with iron nets, one is located at Gnanapuram and other is on the Port side. Railway track was laid on top of the old culvert “Though the garbage piled up near Port and Gnanapuram culverts is being cleaned, but lot of debris had been already accumulated at the old culvert. This was not cleared for many years.
So, whenever it rains waste water doesn’t flow freely, leading to submerging of Gnanapuram,” said BMK Mahendra, 44th ward CPM secretary.Another resident and TDP local leader Erothi Chinna Kumar said, “Despite GVMC authorities’ taking up drainage cleaning works frequently, risk of flooding is prevailing. There should be some kind of permanent solution to this issue.”
Admitting to what both of them pointed out, Zone IV sanitary inspector Shiva Kumar said that the Municipal Commissioner has instructed for constructing another culvert on the Yerri Gedda, for which tenders would be called soon. “New culvert construction will be like a permanent solution to the long lasting crisis,” he said.
During his visit to Gnanapuram a few days ago, Municipal Commissioner gave a slew of directions to the staff concerned. Knowing that there has been shortage of cranes to clear the waste at Yerri Gedda and other drainage systems, the civic chief called for giving the task to contractors.
So far, with the usage of only two cranes, the GVMC has been doing drainage clearing works in all the 19 wards of Zone IV. This is one of the reasons for failing to remove the wastage frequently, sources claim. At Yerri Gedda point alone, with help of one crane nearly 60 tons of garbage was being collected in a day or two, said a crane operator.
By Y Abhishek Paul
