The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Telugu Ganga water released to Chennai

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 24, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Telugu Ganga water released to Chennai

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, NOV. 23. The State Government released Telugu Ganga water to Chennai from Kandaleru today to coincide with the birthday of Sri Satya Saibaba of Puttaparthi who helped in lining the canal.

The gates of Kandaleru were lifted without any fanfare, fulfilling the Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy's promise to his Tamil Nadu counterpart J. Jayalalithaa, when she met him 53 days ago. The initial release was restricted to 200 cusecs as a safeguard against leakages. It will be increased to 500 cusecs tomorrow and later, to 1,000 cusecs. As a major part of the canal is lined, Poondi will receive at least 600 cusecs as against the 300 cusecs earlier.

Till January-end

According to official sources, the flow in the 152-km stretch of the canal connecting Kandaleru with Poondi will continue till January-end. The State Government plans to supply three tmcft to Poondi, which will receive inflows in a week.

Today's release became possible following increase in Kandaleru storage to 8.7 tmcft as compared to 6.9-tmcft, the minimum level required for flow by gravitation to Chennai.

Tight security

The Government has deployed police and irrigation personnel along the canal to check tapping by farmers in Nellore and Chittoor districts. The Collectors have been asked to ensure undisturbed flow to Chennai. Simultaneously, the Government increased outflows from Somasila to 3,000 cusecs for supplementing Kandaleru. This is being done after meeting the needs of local farmers.

This is the first time that water is flowing in the Kandaleru-Poondi canal after a 91-km stretch was lined. Sri Satya Sai Baba provided Rs. 200 crores for lining 62 km while the rest was done by the Government. So far, Rs. 1,685 crores has been spent on Telugu Ganga with Tamil Nadu's contribution being Rs. 512 crores.

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