AP CM Naidu to release Godavari waters to North Andhra on Sept 2
Amaravati, Sept 1 (TNT): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will release Godavari waters towards North Andhra by switching on the regulator constructed across the Polavaram Left Main Canal at Payakaraopeta in Anakapalli district on Wednesday.
Naidu will also offer traditional Jala Harathi on the occasion, marking the fulfilment of his commitment to bring Godavari water to Anakapalli within this year.
The Godavari waters will initially benefit 2.87 lakh acres across four districts and meet drinking water requirements of around 5.23 lakh people, according to the State government.
The government has so far spent Rs 4,192 crore on the construction of the Left Main Canal.
In Anakapalli district alone, around 1.50 lakh acres will benefit from the water released through the canal.
The Water Resources Department plans to use the water to fill the Yeleru canal and 110 tanks in the district, strengthening irrigation and drinking water availability.
The project is expected to stabilise irrigation in 1.48 lakh acres under the Pushkara ayacut, 80,000 acres under Yeleru, 12,000 acres under Pampa and 46,620 acres under the Tandava, Varaha and Mamidi Gedda ayacuts.
Around 23.44 TMC of Godavari water is planned for irrigation, drinking water and industrial requirements in Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli districts.
The 213-km Polavaram Left Main Canal has been designed as part of a larger water network for North Andhra.
The canal will be linked with the North Andhra Sujala Sravanthi project to facilitate the movement of Godavari water to the upper regions of Anakapalli, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram Manyam and Srikakulam districts.
The government plans to take Godavari water to Visakhapatnam next year and subsequently integrate the system with North Andhra Sujala Sravanthi.
The broader network is expected to eventually stabilise irrigation across nearly 8 lakh acres in North Andhra and improve drinking water availability in the region.
To carry the water across natural barriers, the Water Resources Department has constructed several aqueducts and syphons along the canal.
A syphon has been constructed below the bed level of the Yeleru river, while an aqueduct carries the canal over the Pampa river.
At Pampa, the aqueduct foundation was constructed using 312 piles sunk up to 30 metres deep. Across the Tandava river, a 447-metre-long aqueduct with six vents has been constructed to handle a water flow capacity of 10,634 cusecs.
The release of Godavari water is expected to provide additional irrigation and drinking water security to North Andhra and support agricultural and economic development in the region.
TNT KM
