Kundu River

The Kundu River is a tributary of the Penna River in the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh, India. Originating as a spring near the village of Uppalapadu in Orvakal Mandal of Kurnool District, it goes through many changes before merging with the Penna at Adinimmaya Palli village of Kadapa District. It is known for frequent floods that bring heavy damage to the Nandyal and Koilkuntla areas, and hence it is popularly called the "Sorrow of Nandyal." In ancient times this river was known as the Kumudvathi. There is a saying in Rayalaseema that whoever drinks the water of the Kundu will gain enormous courage to face enemies. The valley of the Kundu is known as Renadu and is symbolic of the term "Renati Pourusham."^[1]

Passage

The Kundu River drains around 6,000 acres (24 km²) in its valley, consisting of 41 villages. It covers 6 assembly constituencies in Kurnool and Kadapa districts. Many streams and brooks, including the Gaaleru, Paaleru, Nippuvaagu and Sankalavaagu, are the main sources of flood water. Gaaleru and Paaleru in particular bring heavy flood water from the Nallamala hills. The Kundu is ferocious in the rainy season, particularly during cyclones.^[2]

Floods

Kundu Valley's villages and the town of Nandyal are affected by frequent floods, incurring heavy losses to properties and farmlands. The farmers in this belt are not guaranteed crops until the harvest, as no one can predict the precise arrival of floods. From July to December there are several instances of flooding on this river. In 1994 floods incurred around ₨.60 crores of loss. On August 20, 2000, around midnight, the people of Nandyal were inundated with flood water. Almost everyone in the town experienced some loss of property, and 10 people died. In the much-publicised Kurnool floods of 2009, Nandyal was cut off from civilisation for 5 days as the flooded Kundu encircled the entire town.^[3] After the death of Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhar Reddy the Kundu floods brought much sorrow to the valley people. His son and the sitting MP of Kadapa visited the people affected by the flood in 2009.^[4]

Protests

The people of Nandyal and the farmers of Kundu Valley took to protesting to solve the problem. There has been a widespread demand to construct a protective wall along the passage of Kundu at the outskirts of Nandyal. Ex-MLA of Koilkuntla Late Karra Subba Reddy and retired chief engineer B.V. Reddy suggested some solutions to the government, but in vain. Kundu Porata Samithi, under the leadership of Kamini Venugopala Reddy, have been demanding to construct check dams and storage reservoirs along the river wherever possible. But the technicality of this proposal is yet to be surveyed and certified by the engineers.^[5] The well-known engineer Dr. Sri Rami Reddy submitted a permanent formula citing solutions to prevent floods and to utilise the water effectively for the entire region of Rayalaseema. In this formula he also had some suggestions regarding the Kundu River.^[6] A peculiar characteristic of Kundu Valley is that there is no underground drinking water up to 10 km on each side of the river bank. If a bore is dug within these limits, fluoridated or sulphured water may come out of the rigs.^[7]

References

v t e Eastern Ghats Rivers Champavathi River Godavari Gosthani River Gundlakamma River Kaveri Krishna Kundu River Mahanadi Nagavali River Palar Penner River Ponnaiyar Rushikulya Sabari River Sarada River Sileru River Sweata Nadi Vasishta Nadi Vellar Vamsadhara River Regions Deccan Plateau Kolar Plateau Hills Bilgiri (Biligirirangan) Chitteri Erramala Kalrayan Karanthamalai Kolli Lankamalla Mahendragiri Mettur Nallamalla Pachaimalai Palamalai Palkonda Shevaroy Sirumalai Vada Chennimalai Velikonda Waterfalls Agaya Gangai Kiliyur Mayil Uthu Mangalam Periyar Pudur Megan Talakona Falls Ubbalamadugu Falls States Andhra Pradesh Karnataka Odisha Tamil Nadu West Bengal Parks & Reserves Badrama Wildlife Sanctuary Chilika Bird Sanctuary Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary Kanger Ghati National Park Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary Kolleru Lake Bird Sanctuary Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary Lakhari Valley Wildlife Sanctuary Sri Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve Nalbana Bird Sanctuary Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary Papikonda Wildlife Sanctuary Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary Simlipal National Park Sri Venkateswara National Park Telineelapuram and Telukunchi Bird Sanctuaries Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary Vedanthagal Bird Sanctuary