Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy reviews the retaining wall works alongside the Munneru river in Khammam on Monday.|
| Photo Credit: By Arrangement

Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy has asked officials to ensure speedy completion of the retaining wall works alongside the Munneru river in Khammam in strict compliance with the quality standards within the stipulated timeframe.

The Minister, accompanied by Collector Muzammil Khan, inspected the retaining (flood protection) wall works at Polepalli in Khammam rural mandal on Monday.

Work on the retaining wall spanning 8.5 km on either side of Munneru river has been taken up with an estimated cost of ₹676 crore in the backdrop of recurring flooding of the residential localities alongside the river during monsoon season.

Last year, the Munneru swelled to about 36 feet, its highest level in decades, causing havoc in the areas along the river course in the town.

Speaking to the media at Polepalli, the Minister said the retaining wall, once completed, will find a permanent solution to the frequent flooding of the residential areas on the banks of the river. Of the 17-km-long stretch of the retaining wall, 4,155 metres of earth work and 3,495 metres of cement concrete works have been completed, he said, asking the officials to constantly monitor the retaining wall works to ensure their completion at the earliest.

He said a model colony will be constructed at Polepalli for the land oustees of the retaining wall project and the house site pattas will be handed over to them soon.

Additional Collector P. Srinivas Reddy, Irrigation department, Khammam Circle, Superintending Engineer M. Venkateshwarlu, Divisional Engineer Banala Ramesh Reddy and others accompanied the Minister.