Renovation of Annamayya project remains on paper

ANANTAPUR: Renovation of Annamayya Medium Irrigation Project across Cheyyeru, a tributary of Pennar River in Annamayya district, continues to remain on paper after the project got badly damaged during flash floods in November last.

Annamayya project near Badanagadda in Rajampet mandal had originally been taken up in 1981 and completed in 2001. It had an ayacut of 22,500 acres – 13,000 acres in Kharif season, 6,500 acres in Rabi and 3,000 acres of area for stabilisation of tanks to meet the drinking water needs of surrounding areas. The project had a right canal of 23.63 km, with a proposal for left canal remaining on paper for past two decades.

Though the dam had five spillways, one of them had got jammed. Its gates could not be opened when flash floods carrying more than 3.5 lakh cusecs from the breached upstream Pincha project arrived in November last. As a result, Annamayya project suffered major damage. In addition, 206 structures of medium and minor irrigation projects were damaged in YSR and Rajampet districts.

Following the directive of Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, irrigation authorities last year sent proposals worth Rs. 468 crore for renovating the Annamayya project, while redesigning it to increase its storage capacity. As there had been no forward movement, the project estimate has gone up to Rs. 775.17 crore owing to increased cost of materials.

As the project’s crest gates remain badly damaged, entire water arriving from upstream areas is going off to Somasila in Nellore district.

Once Annamayya project is renovated and redesigned, it will have 11 crest gates instead of the earlier five and store 3.60 lakh cusecs of water. Further, a diaphragm wall is proposed to be built with cement instead of metal bunds.

Irrigation sources said they will call for tenders for the project once financial clearances are received from the state government.