Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur   

Move to remove encroachments

A file photo.

Submerged: An inundated locality in Anantapur.

ANANTAPUR: The inundation of several low-lying areas, particularly the ones along the two stormwater drains in the district headquarters town, due to rain during the last week of August and first week of this month has forced the authorities to concentrate on the removal of encroachments, which have shrunk the drains to less than 10-feet in width at several places.

Maruva vanka and Nadimi vanka stormwater drains were originally 50 to 60 feet in width, but the encroachments on either banks of the drains have shrunk them gradually over the years.

Maruva vanka also carries surplus water from the Anantharayani cheruvu apart from carrying the storm water from the town.

About two dozen localities were in knee-deep water due to heavy rain on August 25 mainly due to obstruction in the free flow of water in the drains due to encroachments.

Collector N. Sridhar inspected the entire length of the drains two days later and found that they were encroached at about 30 places.

Though the poor among the encroachers were assured alternative house sites and houses by the district administration for their voluntary vacation of the encroachment, but there was not much response to the offer.

As a result, the revenue and civic officials have taken up the desiltation of the drains first to ensure free flow of water. Water entered the houses in several low-lying areas on September 9 with just about moderate rain.

Accompanied by mayor R. Parasuram and local legislator B. Narayana Reddy the Collector visited the entire stretch of Maruva vanka again on September 12 and directed the officials concerned to remove the encroachments immediately.

He expressed dissatisfaction over the official apathy as obstructions were created across the drain at several places by someresidents on the other side, though there were other ways.

The Collector assured that the stormwater drains in the town would be restored to their original shape by removing the encroachments and prevent problems the low-lying areas.

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