Godavari Water to North Coastal Andhra From Sept. 2
Irrigation officials said water would be lifted from the Godavari near Purushothapatnam in Seethanagaram mandal and about 3,500 cusecs would be sourced through the canal.
VISAKHAPATNAM: Godavari water is expected to reach north coastal Andhra through the Polavaram Left Canal from September 2, benefiting the Anakapalli, Yelamanchili and Payakaraopeta assembly constituencies with supplies for drinking water and irrigation.
Irrigation officials said water would be lifted from the Godavari near Purushothapatnam in Seethanagaram mandal and about 3,500 cusecs would be sourced through the canal. Of this, 1,400 cusecs would be used for ayacut through the Pushkara system, including filling 110 tanks to irrigate 1.48 lakh acres.
The water would also be used to stabilise the Yeleru ayacut through the Pithapuram branch canal and the Pumpa ayacut, with 700 cusecs benefiting 80,700 acres. Another 98 tanks between Payakaraopeta and Anakapalli would be filled, covering the Payakaraopeta, Yelamanchili and Anakapalli constituencies.
A senior irrigation official said the Godavari water would cover 2,87,320 acres across the three regions and provide drinking water to a population of 9.23 lakh.
About 250 cusecs would also be supplied to Visakhapatnam for industrial and drinking water needs, the official said. The water would mainly benefit the kharif season and partly the rabi season. Officials were still working out the detailed allocations to ensure that no area was left out.
Home minister Vangalapudi Anitha, while reviewing arrangements for Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s likely visit on September 2, said assured water availability would provide relief to farmers amid uncertain weather conditions and concerns over the Super El Nino.
She said the canal water would also link the Tandava, Varaha and Sarada rivers, strengthening irrigation prospects in the region.
