Floods exposed vulnerabilities of Amaravati as capital?

Vijayawada: Has the recent heavy rains and subsequent flooding in Andhra Pradesh have exposed significant vulnerabilities in the chosen capital region of Amaravati?

The submergence of several critical areas, including the seed access road and access road to Lingayapalem, Rayapudi, and the road leading to the High Court in Amaravati, highlighted the risks associated with situating a capital in a flood-prone river zone.

Choosing Amaravati as the capital was a decision fraught with challenges from the start. The Siva Rama Krishnan Committee had earlier raised concerns about selecting this region due to its susceptibility to flooding, recommending that the capital should be located in a safer area. The committee emphasized the need for a capital that is not only geographically sound but also economically and environmentally sustainable.

Despite these warnings, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government under the leadership of then Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu proceeded with the decision to establish Amaravati as the capital. This decision was driven by several factors, including political and economic considerations, but it seems to have overlooked the long-term risks associated with the region's environmental conditions, it is said.

The current situation, with crucial infrastructure under threat and entire areas submerged, brought into question the wisdom of this choice. The high cost of developing a capital in such a vulnerable area could have been avoided had the recommendations of the Siva Rama Krishnan Committee been taken into account.

Moreover, the choice of Amaravati has led to significant expenditure in terms of infrastructure development, land acquisition, and compensation, all of which might now be at risk due to the region's inherent vulnerabilities. The flooding not only affected the immediate area but also posed long-term challenges to governance, economic stability, and the well-being of the residents. It underscored the importance of selecting a capital based on comprehensive risk assessments and the ability to withstand natural calamities.