Needless River Linking, Indiscriminate Loot

Chandrababu Naidu is in a hurry to sanction as many contracts as possible to his benamis and cronies. In this process, he is focusing on smaller projects despite the fact they would lose their relevance once the original, bigger projects are constructed. For instance, Patti Seema project would loss its relevance once the Polavaram project completed. Now, Chandrababu Naidu has taken up one more of such projects- Godavari-Penna linkage project; only to have one more contract for his cronies. Here is the full story. The water availability has gradually come down in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana because of two reasons. The first reason is the construction of new dams in upper riparian states such as Maharashtra and

Karnataka and the increased water usage is the second reason. River linkage is one of the ideas that Andhra Pradesh government is presently considering to face the water shortages.

As part of the project, the AP government has started its efforts to divert water from the Godavari to Krishna. It has entrusted Vyapkos, a central government organisation that specializes in irrigation projects, with the responsibility of survey, feasibility study and preparation Detailed Project Report (DPR).

Vyapkos Report Vyapkos, after an extensive study, suggested the roadmap for river linking project between Godavari and Penna rivers. Here are the details:

1. From the upper side of Polavaram reservoir, 3.50 TMC water has to be lifted and shifted through a canal every day.

2. This Godavari water has to be sent across Krishna river through an aqueduct that would be built on the upper side of a reservoir that is going to come up on Krishna river at Vaikuntapuram.

3. Then the water will have to be stored at the reservoir that is going to be built at Bollapalli with 200 TMC capacity.

4. From Bollapalli Reservoir, the water can be sent to Nagarjuna Sagar Right Canal.

5. From Nagarjuna Sagar Right Canal, the water can be further shifted to Somasila Dam, which is on Penna river, through a dedicated canal. En route, the water can fill the reservoirs of Gundlakamma, Muppavaram, Chinnipadu and Uppuluru in Prakasam district and provide Godavari water to this entire ayacut.

Thus, a total of 320 TMCs water can be diverted from the Godavari and make it available to Sagar Right Canal, Penna delta and the drought-prone regions of Prakasam district. To divert Godavari waters to Penna, a canal, which includes some tunnel part, to the extent of 701 km has to be constructed. This channel must have the additional capacity to shift 4.9 TMCs a day.

According to Vyapkos, this plan would cost Rs. 80,000 crore. Since, the estimated cost is a bit higher, Vyapkos suggested taking up this project in five phases.

Report Doesn’t Matter!

Despite a very clear recommendation from Vyapkos, the state government has taken its own decision as to the Godavari-Penna linkage project. It has distorted the recommendations and gave nod for the first phase of the linkage. According to the state government understanding, already 8,500 cusecs water is being lifted from Patti Seema Lift Irrigation Scheme into Polavaram Right Canal. Another 7,000 cusecs water will have to be lifted into Polavaram Right Canal, that water could be sent to Prakasam barrage through Patti Seema canal.

After the transportation losses and en route usage, 14,000 cusecs would reach Prakasam Barrage. From this water, 7000 cusecs could be released to Krishna Delta and the remaining 7,000 cusecs could be lifted from Harichandrapuram in two phases and released into Sagar Right Canal at 80 km point. This water would reach the ayacut. In order to make this happen, a canal of 56.5 km length and pressure mines through km are required.

The government gave its nod for these works at an estimated cost of Rs. 6,020.15 crore on June 13, 2018. Tender notification was issued and the contract was given a favoured contractor. However, if once the Godavari-Penna linkage is done according to the Vyapkos original recommendations, the present project taken up by the state government at the cost of Rs. 6,020.15 crore will go waste!

Source: Emperor of Corruption

Also Read: Rs. 25,000 Crore Polavaram Project Drained