Steps afoot to solve inundation problem

A collection well-cum-pump house is being constructed to solve inundation problem of APIIC Colony in Vijayawada, according to Municipal Administration Minister P. Narayana.

Replying to a question by TDP MLA Gadde Rammmohan in the Assembly on Wednesday, the Minister said that ₹63.58 lakh was required for construction of the well and pump house. A pumping main of 1.30 km with an estimated cost of ₹79.22 lakh was also being constructed.

The Minister said that it was a fact that the APIIC Colony, a low-lying area, was subjected to inundation during rainy season. As the nearest Pantakaluva outfall drain was at higher elevation, the colony was getting inundated with rain water. The public health department has taken up the construction of storm water drains for discharge of APIIC Colony water into the Guntutippa drain, he said.

The streets in the APIIC Colony near Autonagar get inundated with rain water while sewage gets into their houses during rainy season. The residents did not face the problem of inundation until early 2000.

They had a comfortable living in the colony, which was developed more than 30 years ago.

There are as many as 404 houses, including 108 low-income group houses, 68 middle income group houses and 232 economically weaker section (EWS) houses, with a population of around 3,000.

Start of problems

Their woes began soon after ‘Pantakaluva’, which used to run between Autonagar and their colony, carried the stormwater freely and a road laid on it. Consequently, stormwater, even from as far as NTR Statue at Patamata, gushes towards their colony.