Vijayawada: The historic interlinking of rivers Godavari and Krishna takes place at 9 pm on Wednesday when Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu formally releases Godavari water into Krishna by pressing the motor switch at Ferri village near Ibrahimpatnam mandal of Krishna district.
Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister will switch on the first pump of the Pattiseema lift irrigation scheme to allow Godavari water to flow into the Krishna through the Polavaram right main canal at Pattisam village of Polavaram mandal in West Godavari.
Mr Naidu will arrive at Pattisam village at about 9.30 am from Vijayawada by a helicopter and switch on the first pump at the pump house of the Pattiseema project. By 10.30am, he would leave for Ibrahimpatnam.
Godavari water released from the Tatipudi Lift Irrigation project on September 1 into the Polavaram right canal has reached Nunna village in the city suburbs on Tuesday, after covering a 174km distance.
This will be released into Prakasam Barrage through Budameru and NTPPS canals. Mr Naidu would perform puja at the confluence point — Ferri — and address a public meeting there.
This would also be the beginning of a new phase for the new state, as the Pattiseema Lift Irrigation project, which aims at irrigating and providing drinking water to drought-hit Rayalaseema region, formally takes off. The first pump of Pattiseema project was ready in 165 days, and hereafter water will be released from Pattiseem directly.
The state government claims credit for the inter-linking, saying this is a pressing need and historic occasion.
“Eminent engineer K.L. Rao has initiated the proposal five decades back and we made it a reality. The engineers should be commended for the splendid job,” the CM said.
The Pattiseema project had stirred a hornet’s nest after the Opposition YSR Congress levelled allegations of irregularities and embezzlement of funds of the order of '1,300crore.
Meanwhile, the government made elaborate arrangements for the public meeting at Ibrahimpatnam by mobilising as high as 1.5 lakh people.
