Andhra News: Water shortage in the state

Discussion on alternatives with CM Chandrababu Naidu
Government to seek Central assistance
Central leaders are already positive about providing funds

CM reviewing the project report

Eenadu, Amaravati: The state government has decided to launch the Godavari-Banakacherla interlinking project, which is crucial for the future of the state. It will be undertaken at an estimated cost of around Rs 70-80 thousand crores. It has been decided to call tenders within three months. Chief Minister Chandrababu held key discussions on the project with senior officials of the Water Resources Department and Finance Department on Sunday. The six alternatives prepared by VAPCOS were discussed in this. It is reported that in-principle approval has already been received from the Center to provide assistance for this project. Chandrababu discussed this project with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and others during his recent visit to Delhi. As important as Polavaram is for Andhra Pradesh, this project is equally important.

The Polavaram to Vamsadhara connection plan is one… This connection, which will benefit Rayalaseema, the joint Nellore and Prakasam districts, is another key one. If both of these are completed, it will be like putting a water barrier on the state. The government is confident that the drought will be eradicated. Due to upstream projects, water is not flowing properly in the Krishna. On the other hand, an average of 2,000 TMCs of water flows into the sea in the Godavari every year. The main purpose of this project is to divert 280 TMC of this during floods. Since the water will be diverted during flood days, there will be no problem for the Godavari delta. Around 80 TMCs will be given to the Krishna delta. During flood days, 280 TMCs of Godavari flood water will be given to Rayalaseema, the joint Nellore and Prakasam districts.

Letter to the Center soon

During his recent visit to Delhi, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu spoke to central officials about this huge project. He discussed it with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. He explained how this project is beneficial for the country. Since it is a huge project, it is not possible to undertake it without central assistance. Therefore, after explaining it to the central officials, Chandrababu met with officials on Sunday. Andhra Pradesh will soon write a letter to the center seeking financial assistance for this project. The CM instructed the officials to get all the permissions and call for tenders quickly. This project will be undertaken in three phases.

Initially, the Godavari flood waters will be diverted from Polavaram to Krishna River, in the next stage, the Bollapalli reservoir will be constructed and water will be transferred there and filled, and in the next stage, water will be diverted from Bollapalli to Banakacherla Regulator. It is estimated that a maximum of 345 TMC can be utilized through this. It is being planned to take up this massive scheme in the name of Jalaharati for Andhra Pradesh. This will benefit the Rayalaseema districts as well as the drought-prone Nellore and Prakasam districts. Special Chief Secretary of the Water Resources Department Sai Prasad, Principal Secretary of the Finance Department Piyush Kumar, ENC M. Venkateswara Rao and other officials participated in this meeting.

According to alternative 5d…

• The capacity of the Polavaram right canal will be increased. The capacity of the Tadipudi canal will be increased to 5,000 cusecs. That water will be taken to Vaikunthapuram on the Krishna river. A barrage will be built there and these flood waters will be collected at that river.
• From there, the Sagar right canal will be widened and some new canal will be constructed to take it to the Bollapalli reservoir. The Bollapalli reservoir will be constructed to store 150 TMC. From there, it will be transferred to the Banakacherla head regulator.
• This will require tunnels at two locations and pump houses at nine locations. Gravity drains will need to be dug where necessary.

6 alternatives

VAPCOS had studied this project during the then Chandrababu Naidu government. It suggested some alternatives. The Lidar survey was also completed. Recently, it has studied again according to the current conditions and mentioned a total of six alternatives. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu discussed those alternatives. VAPCOS Water Resources Department officials are of the opinion that two of the alternatives are suitable for the designs. Two of these alternatives do not mix water with the Krishna River, and the other four alternatives allow that water to be taken together with the Krishna. VAPCOS is of the opinion in its report that mainly two alternatives are technically and implementable.

According to alternative 2 under consideration..

The second alternative under consideration for integration

• Flood waters will be diverted from the Polavaram reservoir. A new flood canal with a capacity of 25,000 cusecs will be dug parallel to the Polavaram right canal.
• This new flood canal, along with the Polavaram right canal, will be used to divert flood waters up the Krishna River to Vaikunthapuram. 
• An aqueduct will be built on the Krishna River at Vaikunthapuram to divert the water. From there, a new canal will be dug through the Sagar Right Canal and diverted to the Bollapalli reservoir. A reservoir with a capacity of 200 TMC of water will be constructed at Bollapalli. From Bollapalli, it will be diverted to the Banakacherla Head Regulator. Tunnels will have to be dug in this. The water will have to be lifted in various stages.
• Tunnels are required at four places… pump houses are required at 8 places. There will also be a gravity canal in the middle.