Encroachments, Narrowed Canals Keep Nellore On Flood Edge Despite Repeated Warnings
Nellore: Despite repeated flood fears and past disasters, Nellore city remains vulnerable during monsoon and cyclone seasons; Authorities attribute the recurring threat primarily to attacks on irrigation canals and the long delay in restoring their original carrying capacity.
The wide main canals that cross the city were originally designed to be approximately 30 feet wide to safely drain excess rainwater. But over the years, extreme attacks have reduced the effective width to just 5-10 feet in a few spots. Houses and commercial structures built along the banks of the canal (often claiming political patronage) severely restrict water flow, making flooding inevitable during heavy rains.
Efforts to eliminate these barriers are constantly met with resistance. Following severe floods in 2015, the demolition drive proposed by then urban development minister P. Narayana faced strong opposition from YSRC leaders, who demanded alternative housing for the squatters before removal of illegal structures. Officials said the practice has become even more complicated as many residents have pattas issued by the revenue department or No Objection Certificates from the irrigation wing.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that the civic body has been collecting property taxes from such structures for decades and the ministry of electricity provides electricity connections. Officials privately admit that these contradictions raise serious legal and administrative concerns in cases where evacuation is being considered.
In this backdrop, the Andhra Pradesh government has launched a major canal modernization program covering 12 important canals in Nellore city at an estimated cost of ₹50 Cr, aiming to provide a long-term solution to floods. The initiative, spearheaded by Minister Ponguru Narayana, is part of a larger master plan to make Nellore a model city with resilient urban infrastructure.
The project includes systematic desilting, strengthening of embankments, expansion of critical areas and construction of retaining walls to improve stormwater discharge. While measures are being taken to minimize displacement of residents, special attention is being paid to removing encroachments and restoring original canal alignments wherever possible.
To avoid conflict with local communities, the civic body limited the removal of encroachment to three feet on either side of canals in areas with buildings, instead of the six feet originally proposed. In areas where construction is not taking place, channels are expanded to the maximum extent possible. This calibrated approach aims to balance flood safety with humanitarian concerns, officials said.
Special funds were approved for the project, allowing work to be done simultaneously across multiple channels. Regular field inspections are carried out to ensure quality and timely implementation. In-charge mayor P. Roopkumar Yadav said modernization of the canal network will significantly strengthen the city’s drainage system and provide long-term protection against floods.
Once completed, the improved canal infrastructure is expected to reduce flood risks, improve urban hygiene and finally solve a long-standing civic problem that has plagued Nellore for years.
