The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : YSR to lay foundation for Yellampalli project on July 28

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 23, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Others

YSR to lay foundation for Yellampalli project on July 28

By K.M. Dayashankar

YELLAMPALLI (KARIMNAGAR DT), JULY 22. This sleepy village, which lies on the border of the district in Ramagundam mandal along the Godavari, is today a beehive of activity, after the Government sanctioned the ambitious Yellampalli project on the river and the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajashekhara Reddy, is scheduled to lay the foundation for the project on July 28. Administration and irrigation officials are busy making arrangements and preparing project reports, etc.

The Yellampalli project albeit `Sripada Sagar' was conceived at a picturesque location surrounded by thick forests and hillocks, at a cost of Rs 900 crores. At the proposed site, a barrage would be constructed on the Godavari to utilise about 63 tmcft of water. The full reservoir level of Yellampalli barrage would 143.5 metres.

In the first phase of the project, the authorities would lift about 6.5 tmcft of water to the National Thermal power corporation (NTPC), Ramagundam. In the second phase, about 49.5 tmcft of water would be lifted to the Lower Manair Dam for irrigating upland areas in the Telangana region.

The NTPC, which is currently using the SRSP waters, would use the Yellampalli project waters. With this, the SRSP waters could be utilised for creating an additional 50,000 acres of ayacut in the Manthani and Medaram segments of the district. The authorities are also contemplating lifting the Yellampalli waters to Mancherial town for providing drinking water.

Houses face submersion

The Yellampalli project SE, A Vishweshwara Rao, told The Hindu at the project site on Thursday that a total of six villages including 2,382 families would be affected due to the submergence under the project's waters. Potial and Madirial villages in Ramagundam would be completely submerged under the project, while Yellampalli and Murmur villages in Ramagundam mandal and Namnur and Gudipet villages in Adilabad district would be submerged partially. A total of 4,916 hectares of land would be submerged under the project.

He also said that 2,382 private houses, 13 Government buildings and 135 wells would also be submerged in the project after completion. The project cost includes; construction of barrage Rs 490 crores, lifting of 6.5 tmcft of water to NTPC Rs 160 crores and miscellaneous works Rs 250 crores.

Meanwhile, the Government submitted a detailed project report to the Central Water Commission (CWC), New Delhi, and is waiting for its clearance.

Residents worried

On the other hand, residents of the villages, which would be submerged under the project, are worried about their rehabilitation. When the Zilla Parishad chairman, K.V Rajeshwara Rao, along with some ZPTC members and the ZP CEO, Satya Prasad, visited the proposed project site on Thursday, the villagers of Murmur obstructed their vehicles and demanded suitable compensation and rehabilitation.

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