Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government has intensified efforts to prevent flooding from the Budameru stream in the city. As part of Mission Budameru, the NTR district administration has been directed to modernise the Budameru Delta and repair flood barriers before the onset of the 2025 monsoon season. NTR District Collector Dr. G. Lakshmisha has instructed the Irrigation Department to take up repair works on a war footing to prevent a repeat of the devastating 2024 floods.
Referred to as the “Sorrow of Krishna” by the British, Budameru floods wreaked havoc in Vijayawada in 2024, submerging 30% of the city and leaving residents stranded for over a week. Irrigation officials identified encroachments, illegal constructions, and dams obstructing Budameru’s natural flow as the primary causes of the disaster. In response, authorities are removing encroachments along the Budameru course within the city. Revenue officials from the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) have also conducted a survey to assess illegal structures.
In the AP Legislative Assembly, Mylavaram MLA Vasantha Krishna Prasad urged the government to immediately repair newly formed sinkholes in Budameru and modernize the diversion channel. In response, the state government instructed Collector Lakshmisha to inspect the affected areas and initiate the necessary works.
As part of flood mitigation efforts, officials inspected the Budameru Diversion Channel, Shanti Nagar, and Ibrahimpatnam Mandal, where farmers suffered heavy irrigation losses due to flooding. The damaged Budameru regulator at Velagaleru and siphons in the diversion channel were also examined.
According to collector Lakshmisha, an estimated ₹100 crore is required for immediate repairs, and efforts are underway to secure funding. The government is also considering the full-scale implementation of Operation Budameru to permanently resolve the flooding crisis.
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Budameru delta modrenisation
The AP government is focusing on modernising the Budameru Delta and repairing flood barriers before the 2025 monsoon season to prevent future flooding.
Encroachments, illegal constructions obstructing Budameru’s flow have been identified as the main causes of the 2024 floods.
₹100 crore is estimated for repairs, including fixing sinkholes and modernising the diversion channel.
Officials are inspecting flood-prone areas like the Budameru Diversion Channel and Ibrahimpatnam mandal, where farmers suffered irrigation losses.
