Telangana Government Requests Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project Details

The Telangana government has formally requested information regarding the Polavaram (Godavari)-Banakacherla (Krishna) link project. This request was directed to the Chairman of the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB). The urgency stems from reports that surfaced in leading newspapers, prompting the Engineer-in-Chief of the Irrigation Department, G. Anil Kumar, to act. The request marks the need for clarity on a project that could impact regional water supply and agricultural irrigation.

Overview of the Polavaram-Banakacherla Project

The Polavaram (Godavari)-Banakacherla (Krishna) link project aims to enhance water supply and irrigation. It is designed to provide drinking water to approximately 80 lakh individuals. The project also intends to irrigate over 7.41 lakh acres of new land. Additionally, it will stabilise irrigation for another 22.59 lakh acres already under cultivation.

Project Cost and Water Diversion

The preliminary cost of the project is estimated at ₹80,112 crore. The plan includes diverting Godavari river water for up to 120 days each year. The Godavari river typically experiences surplus flows for 90 to 120 days. This strategic diversion is crucial for meeting the water demands of both domestic and industrial sectors.

Reservoir Capacity and Land Acquisition

The project proposes the construction of transit balancing reservoirs with a capacity of approximately 150 to 200 tmc ft. Notably, the project claims that large-scale land acquisition is unnecessary. The Bollapalle hill range in Palnadu district can serve as a natural balancing reservoir. This approach aims to store about 150 tmc ft of water by closing four small gaps between the hills.

Historical Water Draw from Srisailam Reservoir

Between 2010 and 2019, approximately 855.69 tmc ft of water was drawn from the Srisailam reservoir. This was facilitated through the Pothireddypadu head regulator towards the Banakacherla cross regulator. The historical data indicates reliance on this water source for regional needs.

Daily Water Diversion Capacity

The report estimates that at a diversion rate of 2 tmc ft per day, around 243 tmc ft of water could be redirected from Polavaram to Banakacherla. This diversion is essential for fulfilling the water requirements of the Rayalaseema region.

1. GRMB stands for Godavari River Management Board.
2. Ayacut refers to the area irrigated by a particular source of water.
3. tmc ft means thousand million cubic feet, a unit of water volume.
4. Bollapalle hill range serves as a natural reservoir for the project.
5. N. Chandrababu Naidu is the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

Month: Current Affairs - January, 2025

Category: States Current Affairs