Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has instructed officials to take action to make good use of the upstream flows in the Krishna and Godavari rivers. He suggested that all projects should be completely filled with the current upstream flows and appropriate plans should be made to fill all the tanks in the state. He clarified that steps should be taken to fill the tanks in Rayalaseema, in particular, immediately.
He held a review of the Water Resources Department at the Secretariat and suggested that the water that is being wasted into the sea should be diverted through canals and sent into the tanks. The Chief Minister clarified that the obstacles to the feeder canals from the main canals should be repaired and water should be supplied. He said that only if the obstacles are removed and irrigated, the people and farmers will benefit.
CM Chandrababu said that steps should be taken to ensure that water flows to other areas as well as water has been taken to Kuppam. The CM said that it is a problem if the flows are wasted into the sea and the state will benefit only if the flood water is utilized properly. He suggested that the amount of water required to fill the tanks in Rayalaseema and where there are obstacles should be identified and corrected.
Officials explained that only if the Telugu Ganga and Kundu rivers are widened, there will be an opportunity to transfer water to the reservoirs below. On the other hand, the Chief Minister also directed that the issue of recharging groundwater in the state be focused on. Officials revealed that currently the average groundwater level in the state is 9.92 meters deep.
The Chief Minister directed that the Polavaram left canal works be completed within the specified time frame. He clarified that there is no problem with funds and that the works should be completed quickly. He also wanted the Uttarandhra projects to be completed in order of priority. The Chief Minister clarified that the issue of what work should be undertaken to connect the Vamsadhara-Nagavali and Champavati rivers should be identified.
CM Chandrababu directed the officials to work for results, not for rules. He asked to prepare a blueprint on what to do to take water from Adivapilly reservoir to Chittoor through Galeru Nagari to Kadapa, Perur-BTP to Hindupur, Madanapalle and Tamballapalli. The review was attended by Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu, Special Chief Secretary of the department Sai Prasad, Advisor to the department Venkateswara Rao, and other senior officials of ENC.
