AP irrigation projects in fast lane

C Pradeep Kumar
Vijayawada

The State government is marching ahead to complete the major ongoing irrigation projects which were taken up under Jalayagnam to provide water for irrigation, drinking and industrial requirements in all the districts of the State, particularly in the drought-prone Rayalaseema and Prakasam districts and backward districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, and Visakhapatnam and included it as one of the flagship programmes under the ‘Navaratnalu’. Under the new reverse tendering system, tenders were called for the works in the Water Resources Department and Rs 2185.68 crore savings accrued to the public exchequer.

According to Engineer-in-Chief C Narayana Reddy, for the first time in recent history, water was released to the Godavari delta on June 1, 2022, and Krishna delta on June 10, 2022, to avoid adverse natural calamities like cyclones/depressions at the time of harvesting the crops. The early release of water to NSP canals on July 31, 2022, enabled the assured crop yield to the farmers in the command area.

The International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) recognised Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage, Dowlaiswaram as World Heritage Irrigation Structure at the 24th ICID World Congress held in Australia. Minister Ambati Rambabugaru received the award on 07.10.2022.

The long-pending works across the State were taken up swiftly, Sangam and Nellore Barrages in SPSR Nellore district, which were conceived by Dr YSR, were successfully completed and dedicated to the State by CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in September 2022. The State government completed all the balance works of Sangam Barrage which was renamed after Mekapati Gautham Reddy. The works were completed at a cost of Rs 131.12 crore resulting in stabilisation of ayacut of 3,85,000 acres under the Penna Delta System. The balance works of Sangam Barrage at a cost of Rs 77.37 crore resulting in stabilization of ayacut of 99,525 acres under the Penna Delta System.

Flood Protection Wall on Krishna River was announced by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy during the 2019 floods, announced that the Flood Protection Wall will be taken up along the Left margin of Krishna River at Ramalingeswara nagar of Vijayawada city for a length of 2.70 km up to Yanamalakuduru Hill to protect the inhabitants of the river margin in Koti Nagar, Ramalingeswara Nagar areas up to Yenamalakuduru hill. The value of work done is Rs 124.63Crs. The work is completed in all respects by October 2022, 22 days prior to the agreement period, ahead of the schedule without any EOTs. The government’s vision helped complete flood protection for around 50,000 people living in flood-prone areas of Vijayawada City, who belong to poor and weaker sections and are mostly daily wage laborers who migrated from villages. The river Krishna received more than 5.0 Lakh cusecs of flood this season but no evacuation is found necessary due to the timely completion of this flood wall.

The works of the long-cherished PS Veligonda Project are in brisk progress. The government is committed to completing Phase-1 of the Poola Subbaiah Veligonda Project during next year to draw water to Nallamala Sagar. Tunnel-1 and its Head Regulator are already completed and Tunnel-II and its Head Regulator are programmed to be completed by August 2023.

The earthwork excavation in Owk Tunnel-II is almost completed except in the Fault Zone of 160 mt, which is now in swing, on completion would enable a discharge of 20,000 Cusecs through the twin tunnels. On completion of OWK tunnel-II, the allocated water of 38 TMC to GNSS can be drawn from Srisailam Reservoir in lesser Flood days and intended benefits i.e., supply of Irrigation and Drinking water to Kadapa, Chittoor, and Nellore under GNSS project can be achieved. This is programmed to be completed by March 2023.

Water Supply to Western Mandals of Kurnool district: Providing Water Supply to Western Mandals of Kurnool district by lifting 1.238 TMC of flood water of Krishna River from the Left side of HNSS Main Canal at 90Kms to feed 68 tanks in 9 mandals to stabilise an ayacut of 10,130 acres and also domestic, industrial, and drinking needs of people & livestock will be met in the western parts of Kurnool District. This work is almost completed with a value of 180.67 Cr and ready to supply water in Done and Pattikonda constituencies.

Lining of Telugu Ganga Canal from Km 0.00 to 18.00 km: The Telugu Ganga canal is contemplated to supply drinking water to Chennai City and irrigation to an extent of 114500 acres in the Nandyal District en route of the Canal. The lining of the canal from km 0.00 to 18.00 and gap portions between 18.00 to 46.00 and renovation of dilapidated structures is being taken up on priority and 90% of lining is completed and supplied water to its full capacity 5000 cusecs and filled all the D/s reservoirs to its full capacities.