Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is working hard to make the Godavari- Krishna- Penna river interlinking process, which has been in the proposal stage for many years, operational. Despite financial problems, he is focusing on calculating the viability of this project. He is planning to provide drinking and irrigation water to the four districts of Rayalaseema as well as the Prakasam and Nellore districts on the south coast.
Alternative proposals are being discussed for this. According to these, the surplus water of Godavari from the Polavaram main right canal will be diverted to the Krishna river at the rate of two TMC per day (during the season). It will be diverted from Vaikuntapuram near the Prakasam barrage to Bollapalli in the joint Guntur district through new canals.
A reservoir will be constructed there and from there it will be taken to Banakacherla in the joint Prakasam district via Nallamala. From there, it will be sent to Somasila, Telugu Ganga, Galeru- Nagari, Handreeniva and irrigate Rayalaseema, Nellore and Prakasam districts. It is known that the Pattiseema project was undertaken by the previous TDP government to divert Godavari waters to Prakasam barrage through the Polavaram right main canal.
Based on the current canal capacity, 17,561 cusecs of water can be diverted to the Krishna Delta. The Water Resources Department has stated that by increasing the current canal capacity, 23,113 cusecs can be diverted. It has also been said that if the canal is dug to a depth of five to six meters, it will be possible to divert 40,674 cusecs daily.
Meanwhile, the Water Resources Department has also examined another proposal to divert Godavari waters by digging a new canal parallel to the Polavaram right main canal. It is said that since this canal is being dug newly, it can be constructed to the required depth and lining. It has stated that the water from Godavari will be able to flow faster to the final area by lifting it to Krishna at a height of 90 meters. However, it has been stated that 10,000 acres of land will have to be acquired for the excavation of this canal, which is very difficult.
The Water Resources Department has prepared proposals to transfer Godavari water from the Bollapalli reservoir to the Banakacherla head regulator via Nallamala. It is said that by implementing this scheme, 22 TMC can be supplied to the Veligonda project.
It is expected that 140 TMC can be transferred from the Banakacherla complex to the Telugu Ganga, Galeru-Nagari and Handreeniva projects. In total, 180 TMC of Godavari water can be transferred from the Bollapalli reservoir to the Banakacherla head regulator, according to Water Resources Department officials.
It was estimated that the surplus Godavari water can be transferred to Rayalaseema and South Coast districts as much as possible through the excavation and expansion of canals. It has been stated that 75.1 TMC of Godavari water can be lifted in 121 days through the currently available projects, reservoirs and canals under construction.
