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Andhra Pradesh
By Our Special Correspondent
The Kisan Forum and Dr. K. Sriramakrishnaiah Smaraka Seva Samithi jointly organised a meeting to discuss the plight of Krishna delta farmers and suggest some remedial measures. The meeting expressed unhappiness that Pulichintala had raked up regional animosities and Polavaram became almost impossible in view of high cost of rehabilitation. So it resolved to request the Government to take up a lift irrigation project across Godavari at Polavaram to divert 80 tmcft of water to Prakasam barrage through a link canal with a carrying capacity of 7000 cusecs. The canal is estimated to cost Rs. 2,500 crores and the recurring cost of lift would come to an estimated Rs. 200 crores per year. The project can be completed in two to three years time and provide immediate relief to Krishna delta. The meeting assured the Government that farmers would meet the recurring expenditure of the project. The water thus saved at Nagarjunasagar can be used for the benefit of Telangana and Rayalaseema regions, they averred. The meeting also urged the Government to examine the feasibility of constructing small reservoirs across Paleru and Munneru rivulets for better utilisation of inflows from the local catchment area. The meeting demanded the Government to increase allocation for irrigation and reduce the cost of establishment considerably. The Kisan Forum secretary, Akkineni Bhavani Prasad, presided. He stressed the need for farmers to stake their claim on Krishna waters before the Second Tribunal. Stating that the Karnataka Government has already started an exercise in this regard, the AP Government has been sleeping over it. He pointed out that the total needs of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh came to 4,500 tmcft as against 2,060 tmcft of water available in Krishna river. Once the upper riparian States start using water for their needs, there would be little water left for AP till mid-August. Therefore, diversion of water from Godavari to Krishna becomes imminent, he felt. The TDP leader, Yerneni Nagendranath, suggested that the Godavari water could be diverted by digging a canal from Polavaram to Prakasam barrage and lifting water with the help of heavy duty pumpsets. Alternatively, water could be diverted by gravity from Dummagudem, where the Government proposed to construct a hydroelectric power station. The canal from Dummugudem to Prakasam barrage is estimated to cost Rs. 7,000 crores. The former chairman of Krishna Zilla Parishad, Pinnamaneni Koteswara Rao, squarely blamed the TDP Government for its failure to protect the interests of Krishna delta. It is unfortunate that both Polavaram and Pulichintala raised fond hopes. It is the responsibility of the Government to provide assured water for Krishna delta either by constructing Pulichintala or Polavaram. The DCC president, Mandali Budha Prasad, asked the Government to clarify whether Krishna delta had riparian rights or not. He came down heavily on the political leaders of Andhra for failing to protect the interests of the region. The former TDP MLA, Dasari Balavardhana Rao, said the Government had given administrative sanction for Pulichintala for Rs. 537 crores and it would be taken up soon.
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