Khammam is one of the fastest growing cities in the Telangana State. The city is maintaining well connectivity with 5 national highways . The city of Khammam emerged as IT and Industrial hub with the initiative of State IT and Industry minister Sri KT Rama Rao and in accordance with the expectations of Chief Minister Sri K Chandrashekhar Rao. Khammam already emerged as the a fast growing centre in the fields of Agriculture, Education and Medical and Health.
The State government is paying special attention to promote Khammam as a pleasant livable city with high living standards. Local people and public representatives are getting involved in the development works taken up by the government. Gollapadu channel modernization works are proof of that.
Going into details : Gollapadu Channel in Khammam Municipal Corporation was an old irrigation field channel which passed in the middle of Khammam town on a stretch of 10.60 km. Currently there is no ayacut under this channel. Over the time, due to the rapid urbanization of Khammam town, most of the banks of Gollapadu channel have been encroached and slums formed with houses. As a result, drainage sewage from these slums directly reached the channel. These drains used to flood many colonies around the channel every year due to the rain water coming from 22 divisions in Gollapadu channel.
During the rainy season, these surrounding areas emanated foul smell . This decades-old problem has been addressed by the government by allocating Rs 70 crore under the Chief Minister’s Assurance program. With these funds, silt was removed from Gollapadu channel. 10.60 kilometers of sewerage pipe lines were laid and diverted sewage to the Sewage treatment plant with 20 LMD installed capacity established in Srinivasa Nagar. Also, storm water drain was constructed on 6.50 km stretch as part of flood prevention. The drain allows the flood water to flow into the Munneru River. 22 divisions of its surrounding areas are now freed from flood prone zone due to the construction of Gollapadu channel. The fear of flooding has gone. All the rain water reached the Munneru river without any stagnation or inundation. Thus, vector-borne diseases are also prevented.
As part of the modernization project, 812 encroachments along the Gollapadu channel have been removed. The government allotted house plots at prime location in “Velugumatla Layout” to resettle the families living in this encroachment for a long time. Roads, electricity, street lights, toilets and 6.50 km drinking water pipeline have been laid and drinking water facility is provided for 812 families at their door steps through Khammam Municipal Corporation. Disposal of septage in channel is also stopped after rehabilitation.
The government reclaimed about 32.00 acres of land at the prime location by removing the encroachments along the channel and converted the channel into an underground drainage system. The value of the reclaimed land is more than the amount sanctioned for this project. The government developed 10 Garden parks and sports grounds in the name of famous persons in this land.
Spacious parking lots with non-encroachment bollards, entrance arches with beautiful sculptures and painted walls, conservation of existing trees with landscaping round benches, tree planting, greenery, lawns and fountains have been established in Prakash Nagar, Sundarayya Nagar, Pumping Well Road, Ranganayakulagutta, Vanajeevi Ramaiah Park, Jubilee Club etc. Initiative is also taken to grow Miyawaki forests. Games and sports facilities like open gyms, children play equipment, mega chess board with chess playing tables, skating rink, badminton courts, kho kho, volley ball courts, basket ball court are provided. Panchatatva gardens, medicinal parks, benches, walking tracks along Gollapadu channel, LED and high mast lighting have been provided with world-class standards.
Protection measures are taken up with chain link mesh fence. All the above mentioned activities reduced air pollution, improved air quality & environment which provides healthy environment for children, youth, middle aged and senior citizens by transforming Gollapadu neighborhoods into pleasant lung space centers. This entire area, which was once full of stink , has now become a place where people visit take rest every day . The long pending problem of Gollapadu channel has been resolved with the development works taken up under the Chief Minister’s assurance funds.
