YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) national spokesperson and former Rajamahendravaram MP Margani Bharat has said the riverfront works posed a major threat to the embankment of the Godavari in Rajamahendravaram city. The riverfront development and beautification works are in progress as part of creating additional facilities for the Godavari Pushkarams in 2026.

In a release, Mr. Bharat said: “The embankment of the river Godavari has been eroding since August 2 due to a huge inflow of flood water into the Godavari river near Markandeya temple area, where the officials concerned attempted to guard it by placing sand bags.”

“The Godavari received above 14 lakh cusecs of flood water on August 2, leading to erosion of the embankment as the sand bags could not protect it. The damage to the embankment will be at an alarming level if the inflow of flood water touches the third warning level at Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage at Dowleswaram,” Mr. Bharat said.

Experts ignored

Mr. Bharat said the way the riverfront works were being executed raised questions about whether the recommendations of irrigation experts had been considered.

“Those ignoring the threats to the embankment and proceeding with the unscientific riverfront works should be held responsible for any untoward incidents,” Mr. Bharat said.

On the inundation of low-lying areas at Kambalacheruvu, Mr. Bharat said the pumping station remained idle and was not being used to divert rainwater, leading to the flooding of many low-lying areas.