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Jagan's Master Plan For Rayalaseema Irrigation Needs
By: Tupaki Desk | 24 July 2020 8:56 AM GMT
Though most of the Chief Ministers either before after the bifurcation of the undivided Andhra Pradesh hailed from the Rayalaseema, the region barely enjoyed the fruits of development. Quenching the thirst of the parched swathes of Rayalaseema has always been a distant dream. There never was a sincere and concerted attempt to develop the region. It was left to late YS Rajasekhara Reddy to put in place the schemes that augmented the irrigational capabilities of Pothireddypadu and new projects like Handri Neeva and Galeru-Nagari. Following the footsteps of his illustrious father, chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has now taken up the prestigious Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Project to give a face-lift to the Rayalaseema region. The project, which has overcome teething technical and inter-state troubles, is now in the tendering stage. A rare project that stands testimony to CM’s farsightedness
This is not just the largest project in Rayalaseema, but also the largest in the state. Just as the Kaleshwaram project, which when completed would pump 3 TMC a day (2 TMC being pumped now and 1 TMC under construction), the Rayalaseema LIP can pump a huge amount of water. This is bigger than the Handri Neeva, till now considered the biggest in AP, that has a pumping capacity of 40 TMC per year. Even projects like Pattiseema, Muchchumarri, Kondaveeti Vagu, and Purushottapatnam have already been completed. The Rayalaseema LIP, being constructed at Sangameshwara in Kurnool district, is radically different from the other projects. Soon after the innovative idea of the Rayalaseema LIP flashed in his mind, he undertook the scientific and technical feasibility studies and has now readied up the government for undertaking the project. When completed, the project will irrigate large swathes of perennially parched lands in Rayalaseema and will help the drought-stricken masses of the region.
Permanent drought despite perennial Krishna
The Rayalaseema is entitled to a total of 114 TMC from various sources including the Telugu Ganga of Srisailam project (29 TMCs), SRBC (19 TMC), Galeru-Nagari-GNSS (39), drinking water supply lines to Chennai (15 TMC), TBPHLC (10 ) and the evaporation loss (3 TMCs). For this, an approach canal has been built in the back area of the reservoir. For this, water has to be released through the Pothireddypadu head regulator from the Srisailam Right Main Canal. This can happen only when the water level in the Srisailam reservoir is over 841 feet. The water is released into the Telugu Ganga, KC Canal, and SRBC canals through the Bankicherla Cross regulator from the SRMC. As part of the efforts aimed at capacity improvement, YSR had enabled the release of 44000 cusecs. As a result, floodwater utilization has gone up considerably in the Rayalaseema region. Last year at least 179.30 tmc was diverted not just to Rayalaseema but also to Nellore and Chennai. Yet, large tracts have continued to remain parched in Rayalaseema and a large amount of water is flowing waste into the sea during the flood season.
The hard fact is that with the exception of the last couple of years, the allocated 114 TMC supplied via Pothireddypadu has never been fully used. A perusal of the water utilization data from 2004-5 till 2019-20 is enough to understand this. In 2004-5, only 56.51 of the 114 TMC could be used. In 2005-06, only 78.49 TMC, in 2007-08, 48.05 TMC and in 2009-10, 60.14 TMC were used. It is to be noted that 2009-10 witnessed one of the worst floods. Yet, the utilization was sub-optimal. Similarly, in 2012-13, the utilization was at its lowest. Only 22.49 TMCs could be utilised. The utilization In 2014-15 was 59.17 TMC, while in 2015-16a paltry 0.95 TMC was released. In the last four years, the utilisation was 67.44, 91.70,115.40, 179.30 TMCs respectively.
This is not just the largest project in Rayalaseema, but also the largest in the state. Just as the Kaleshwaram project, which when completed would pump 3 TMC a day (2 TMC being pumped now and 1 TMC under construction), the Rayalaseema LIP can pump a huge amount of water. This is bigger than the Handri Neeva, till now considered the biggest in AP, that has a pumping capacity of 40 TMC per year. Even projects like Pattiseema, Muchchumarri, Kondaveeti Vagu, and Purushottapatnam have already been completed. The Rayalaseema LIP, being constructed at Sangameshwara in Kurnool district, is radically different from the other projects. Soon after the innovative idea of the Rayalaseema LIP flashed in his mind, he undertook the scientific and technical feasibility studies and has now readied up the government for undertaking the project. When completed, the project will irrigate large swathes of perennially parched lands in Rayalaseema and will help the drought-stricken masses of the region.
Permanent drought despite perennial Krishna
The Rayalaseema is entitled to a total of 114 TMC from various sources including the Telugu Ganga of Srisailam project (29 TMCs), SRBC (19 TMC), Galeru-Nagari-GNSS (39), drinking water supply lines to Chennai (15 TMC), TBPHLC (10 ) and the evaporation loss (3 TMCs). For this, an approach canal has been built in the back area of the reservoir. For this, water has to be released through the Pothireddypadu head regulator from the Srisailam Right Main Canal. This can happen only when the water level in the Srisailam reservoir is over 841 feet. The water is released into the Telugu Ganga, KC Canal, and SRBC canals through the Bankicherla Cross regulator from the SRMC. As part of the efforts aimed at capacity improvement, YSR had enabled the release of 44000 cusecs. As a result, floodwater utilization has gone up considerably in the Rayalaseema region. Last year at least 179.30 tmc was diverted not just to Rayalaseema but also to Nellore and Chennai. Yet, large tracts have continued to remain parched in Rayalaseema and a large amount of water is flowing waste into the sea during the flood season.
The hard fact is that with the exception of the last couple of years, the allocated 114 TMC supplied via Pothireddypadu has never been fully used. A perusal of the water utilization data from 2004-5 till 2019-20 is enough to understand this. In 2004-5, only 56.51 of the 114 TMC could be used. In 2005-06, only 78.49 TMC, in 2007-08, 48.05 TMC and in 2009-10, 60.14 TMC were used. It is to be noted that 2009-10 witnessed one of the worst floods. Yet, the utilization was sub-optimal. Similarly, in 2012-13, the utilization was at its lowest. Only 22.49 TMCs could be utilised. The utilization In 2014-15 was 59.17 TMC, while in 2015-16a paltry 0.95 TMC was released. In the last four years, the utilisation was 67.44, 91.70,115.40, 179.30 TMCs respectively.
