Stung by criticism over the sad state of affairs at the Visakhapatnam airport, which has remained submerged under rain water for the past 12 days, the state government has finally decided to undertake flood-proofing works at an estimated cost of Rs 60 crore.
According to the instructions issued at a review meeting by chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy on Tuesday, the Vizag Urban Development Authority and Vizag Municipal Corporation would jointly mobilise the necessary funds to build a drainage channel from Meghadrigadda, the stream which is responsible for the present flooding of the airport, up to the seashore and to construct a bund around the airport.
The government's decision came after the Defence Ministry refused to share the cost. Though it is meant for civilian purposes, the airport is actually in control of the Defence Ministry as Vizag is the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command.
"Defence officials argued that the Meghadrigadda flooding is a problem of the state government and should accordingly be addressed by the government on its own," an informed official told Business Standard.
The construction of a drainage channel and a bund around the airport will be executed by the State Irrigation Department, officials said.
