The Hindu : Row over proposed surplus weir at Siddeswaram

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 16, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Row over proposed surplus weir at Siddeswaram

By Our Staff Reporter

KURNOOL Sept. 15. The surplus weir across the Krishna river at Siddeswaram, which has got potential to ensure uninterrupted water flow to the canals and drinking water systems depending upon Pothireddypadu head regulator and the Kalvakurthi lift irrigation scheme for Mahabubnagar district on the left bank, has become a serious point of debate.

The weir which is proposed at Siddeswaram near Muchumarri village in Nandikotkur mandal of Kurnool district is located 86 km upstream of Srisailam reservoir and 45 km downstream of Kurnool city. The weir is claimed to be a least disturbance for either the Srisailam reservoir or downstream projects. In fact, by constructing the weir, the pressure on the Srisailam reservoir could be completely relieved.

It is being argued now that by constructing the Srisailam reservoir harm was done to Rayalaseema region by restricting the utilisation of the Krishna water. The river flows to a distance of over 100 km in the district but the major project was proposed at the last point and the off-take point was located at Pothireddypadu about 80 km upstream of the dam. Had the project been planned at Siddeswaram, the entire Rayalaseema region could have been benefited to a great extent. In fact, the Khosla committee recommended the irrigation projects on the Krishna river at Siddeswaram, Nagarjunasagar and Pulichintala.

But the location was shifted to Srisailam with the main intention of increasing the head for power generation. But the planners did not consider the irrigation needs of the Rayalaseema region. An ambitious plan was drawn up for utilising the Srisailam water for irrigation needs which does not match with the contour levels of the reservoir.

Utilising the foreshore waters of Srisailam projects several drinking water and irrigation projects were contemplated which include Madras water supply system 15 tmcft, Telugu Ganga project 29 tmcft and the SRBC 19 tmcft.

Besides the projects, Hundri-Neeva with an allotment of 40 tmcft and Kalavakurthy lift irrigation scheme with 25 tmcft were proposed. Though AP is committed to supply drinking water from the Krishna to Chennai city, the direct supply is yet to begin. The promise was being fulfilled by supplying from Kandaleru reservoir in Pennar basin. Similarly, the supply to SRMC has been erratic with last year passing off without drawing single drop of water.

The Deputy Executive Engineer of Hundri-Neeva Project, M. Subbarayudu, who has prepared the rough sketch of the surplus weir at Siddeswaram, has contended that the structure has not only been helpful to Rayalaseema region but Telengana and indirectly to coastal Andhra project. By relocating the off-take point of Kalvakuthi lift scheme, the initial cost and maintenance of the project could be reduced by half.

After a steep curve to the left, the river forces its way into the Nallamala hill range at the Siddeswaram point. By constructing the weir to bridge the two hills which have a gorge of about 550 to 600 meters, a pond with a storage capacity of 50 tmcft could be created within the Srisailam reservoir. The pond does not submerge any fresh areas because its height is lower than that of Srisailam. The FRL level of Srisailam reservoir is 885 ft while the height of the weir is 860 ft. The weir will completely under water when the Srisailam reservoir is filled to the FRL but the weir takes over when the water starts receding in the parent reservoir.

The bed of the Srisailam dam is located at 530 ft while the bed level at the proposed weir at Siddeswaram point is 820 ft. The structure is expected to cost Rs. 150 crores which is a fraction of thousands of crores being spent on Telugu Ganga canal, the SRBC and Kalvakurthi project. The canals will function irrespective of the levels in the Srisailam reservoir.

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