AP CM To Release Godavari Waters Through Polavaram Left Canal Tomorrow
In a landmark step right after the inauguration of the Veligonda Irrigation Project, AP CM N Chandrababu Naidu will release the Godavari River waters into the region via the Polavaram Left Canal .
Amaravati: In another landmark step right after the inauguration of the Veligonda Irrigation Project, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister on Wednesday will release the Godavari River waters into the region via the Polavaram Left Canal, which is said to meet the rising drinking water and industrial demands of the North Coastal region in the state.
The Chief Minister will mark the occasion by performing Jala Harathi at Sitarampuram in Payakaraopeta mandal, Anakapalli district.
The project will provide irrigation to a total of 2,87,320 acres and drinking water to 5.23 lakh people across four districts. So far, Rs. 4,192 crore has been spent on the construction of the Left Main Canal.
Flowing through Yeleru, Pampa, Thandava, Varaha and Sarada rivers, the Left Canal has been built by cutting through the Eastern Ghats and overcoming complex geographical terrains. As part of the construction, siphons and aqueducts have been built at various river crossings.
In some places, the canal is built above the river flow and a siphon was constructed below the bed level of Yeleru river to carry Godavari water, while an aqueduct was built over Pampa river. For the Pampa aqueduct, foundations were laid with 312 piles up to 30 meters deep. On Thandava river, a 447-meter-long aqueduct with 6 vents was built to withstand a flow capacity of 10,634 cusecs.
The long-pending Thallapalem land dispute was resolved, and 472 families were rehabilitated.In the first phase, the water released through the Left Canal will benefit 1.50 lakh acres in Anakapalli district. The action plan is to fill the Yeleru canal at Anakapalli and 110 tanks in the district from the Payakaraopeta aqueduct.
The Left Canal will stabilize 1.48 lakh acres under Pushkara ayacut, 80,700 acres under Yeleru ayacut, 12,000 acres under Pampa ayacut and 46,620 acres under Thandava, Varaha and Mamidi Gedda ayacut. In total, 23.44 TMC of Godavari water will provide assurance for irrigation, drinking and industrial needs.
The Left Main Canal, including drinking water canals, is being built for a total length of 213 km with an aim to provide irrigation to 4 lakh acres.
The coalition government plans to further extend the Polavaram Left Canal and link it with the Uttarandhra Sujala Sravanthi project to carry Godavari water to the upland areas of Anakapalli, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram Manyam and Srikakulam districts, which will help provide irrigation and drinking water to 8 lakh acres in the North Andhra region.
