A.P. govt. urged to launch Operation Budameru-OxBig News Network

CPI State secretary K. Ramakrishna on Wednesday (June 18) demanded that Operation Budameru be taken up on a war footing to provide a permanent solution to flood prevention and that the government immediately convene an all-party meeting on the Godavari–Banakacherla Project.

Leaders of a number of political parties met Minister for Water Resources Nimmala Ramanaidu here and said if the government does not take concrete steps to desilt and clean the Budameru stream, regions along its course would remain under threat.

Mr. Ramakrishna said the Budameru floods at the beginning of the coalition government’s tenure last year caused immense suffering and property loss to thousands. He urged the government to act decisively to avoid another disaster.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s promise to clean Budameru under ‘Operation Budameru’ remains unfulfilled. The operation would benefit flood-prone areas in NTR, Vijayawada, Krishna, and Eluru districts.

Minister Nimmala reportedly said the project would cost ₹8,000 crore and that Central funding was expected.

Vijayawada Congress City president Naraharishetty Narasimha Rao said that Centre must be pressured to release funds. Simply stating that preliminary steps are being taken is insufficient; a concrete action plan is needed, he added.