Telangana has asked the Polavaram Project Authority to conduct a joint survey on areas in Telangana that are likely to be submerged by the Polavaram Project so that suitable protective measures can be taken.
“In view of the onset of monsoon, we request the PPA to ensure free flow at the Polavaram project without impounding water using its 48 gates and to keep the river sluices open throughout the water year. We once again request to undertake a joint survey for resolving problems taking into cognizance the SC order dated September 6, 2021, and thereby undertake protection measures to avoid submergence of Telangana territory as per GWDTA,” says the letter written by ENC C. Muralidhar to the PPA.
“AP has not responded to the joint survey request. TS requested immediate ground-truthing through a joint survey (even without the involvement of AP in case of non-cooperation) without further loss of time in view of the monsoon season,” the ENC said.
The issues raised by TS regarding backwater effects in TS by undertaking a fresh study considering the latest river cross-sections, correct assessment of PMF and its corresponding backwater effects remain unaddressed in spite of the timeframe fixed by the Supreme Court.
“It is pertinent to note that the July 2022 floods flooded 103 villages submerging an area of 40,446 acres and displacing a population of 28,000. This huge impact is for the recorded gauge level of 71.3 feet at Bhadrachalam (+178.3 MSL) which is abnormally high compared to the previous MFD and is estimated that in all about 50,000 acres would be submerged if the 1986 HFL of 75.6 feet (+182.6 MSL) is impinged due to the backwater effect of Polavaram,” the ENC said.
The choking of drains occurred in almost all local streams on either side of the main Godavari River causing havoc. AP is not accepting the impact of the July 2022 flood related to Polavaram by saying that there was no water impoundment at the Polavaram Project then.
The SC too in its order stressed on technical study reports depending on the expansion of the project for ascertaining its impact on the territories of upstream states.
After the coordination meeting held on 12.04.2023, the PPA forwarded the data furnished by AP with an assurance to facilitating ground-truthing through a joint survey. AP’s data has also clearly established that about 954 acres is coming under submergence in TS due to standing water when Pol is at FRL (+150ft).
“It was clearly reported that the standing water at FRL (+45.72 m /150 ft) coupled with any inflows will result in local drainage congestion in 31 local streams along the banks even during the non-monsoon period. This will cause frequent flash floods and result in the submergence of seven mandals of Aswapuram, Bhadrachalam, Burgampahad, Cherla, Dummugudem, Pinapaka and Manuguru due to congestion in Godavari River. This will also cause submergence of agricultural lands and affect existing LI Schemes, the ITC park, heavy water plant etc,” the ENC said.
