Roads and Buildings (R&B), Investments, and Infrastructure Minister BC Janardhan Reddy said that he would take up the Avuku Reservoir leakage issue with Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu. He will also involve the Irrigation Department to find a permanent solution.
Janardhan Reddy inspected the revetted section of Thimmaraju Cheruvu, which falls under the Avuku Reservoir limits in the Banaganapalle constituency. He reviewed the repair works along with irrigation officials. He issued directions and suggestions to expedite the process.
₹1 crore sanctioned for emergency repairs
The minister said that minor leakages had been noticed in the reservoir in recent months. A team of experts previously inspected the issue and submitted a report. Based on this, the government sanctioned ₹1 crore for emergency repairs after discussions with the Collector, he said.
“The government has finalised tenders worth ₹68 lakh and completed the agreements,” the minister said. He added that while the leakage, which was about one metre earlier, had now increased to nearly three metres. However, officials are taking safety measures to ensure residents face no inconvenience.
“The issue is being taken seriously. Repair works will begin soon to stop the leakage completely,” the minister said. He emphasised that he would personally take the matter to the Chief Minister and the Irrigation Minister to secure a long-term fix.
Janardhan Reddy urged the media to act responsibly, given locals and farmers were anxious about the situation. He said that when the leakage intensified recently, he was in Vijayawada but had immediately alerted local irrigation officials. The minister said that he instructed officials to lower the reservoir’s water level to ensure public safety.
The minister assured that because the Gorukallu Reservoir is already full, farmers will get sufficient irrigation water in the coming season. They need not worry.
