New arrangements to ease Rayalaseema water woes

ANANTAPUR: Irrigation authorities proposed a supply of 350 TMC ft of water to Rayalaseema through Godavari-Pennar linkage while the additional and supplementary projects of Pennar would be from Godavari basin.

As part of the Godavari-Pennar linkage, the HNSS project main canal is expected to ease the troubles of drought-hit Rayalaseema region which depends on Krishna sources through back waters of Srisailam and covers Kurnool, Anantapur, Kadapa and Chittor districts.

Handri-Neeva Sujala Sravanthi project is the longest water canal project in Rayalaseema that is conceived to provide irrigation facilities to six lakh acres and reliable drinking water supply, by drawing flood waters from Srisailam reservoir. 

The main canal links the Handri River,  Penna River, Chitravathi River, Papagni River, Mandavya River, Bahuda River, Cheyyeru River, Gargeya River, Vedavati River, Palar River and its connecting projects  in the Rayalaseema region. The canal that passes across Kurnool, Ananthapur, Kadapa and Chittoor districts feeds several reservoirs and water tanks in the region. In order to achieve full requirements of drinking and irrigation water of the region, irrigation experts expect at least 350 TMC ft of water.

A senior official involved in preparing feasibility report assessed that Anantapur district would get 150 TMC ft, Kurnool and Chittoor 100 while Kadapa and Kurnool districts would get 50 TMC ft  each.

"We hope Rayalaseema would get surplus water by 2019 end through Godavari and Pennnar connectivity," the official observed.   During present season, a majority parts of Rayalaseema got adequate water through Srisailam. Anantapur district alone got 15 TMC ft through HNSS project.

Irrigation officials observed Kadapa district had surplus water in Gandikota reservoir, Chitravathi and connecting parts of Kadapa district received adequate water. Gandikota is filled with 6 TMC ft first time.