Even as the Telugu Desam Party-led coalition government is facing criticism for spending lavishly on various constructions in the capital city of Amaravati, there are fresh allegations that the government is also splurging money in the name of engaging consultancies for every project.
For instance, the Chandrababu Naidu government has decided to engage fresh consultants in the name of developing a comprehensive disaster management plan for the Amaravati Capital Region.
It has invited Expressions of Interest (EoIs) from consultancy firms for the purpose.
The initiative is being supported by World Bank funding, which mandates a dedicated disaster mitigation framework for the capital area.
The proposed plan will include detailed risk assessments and mitigation measures for the next 30 years, focusing on threats from the Krishna River, Kondaveeti Vagu, cyclones, and floods.
Consultants will also be required to prepare structural safety guidelines for buildings, as Amaravati lies in Seismic Zone-3, ensuring all future constructions are disaster-resilient.
This plan aligns with the National Green Tribunal (NGT)’s order dated November 17, 2017, which made a disaster management plan mandatory for the Amaravati region to safeguard it from earthquakes, floods, and extreme weather events.
The government’s decision to engage a new consultancy has sparked questions among local farmers and activists, who point out that an earlier disaster management plan already exists.
They argue that infrastructure like the Undavalli Lift System was already installed for flood prevention, questioning the need for yet another consultancy exercise.
Officials, however, contend that updated studies are essential to factor in climate change, land-use shifts, and flood-prone zones, ensuring that flood and fire vulnerability maps remain current and effective.