The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Moves afoot to bail out Godavari delta ryots

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 08, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Moves afoot to bail out Godavari delta ryots

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, FEB. 7. Steps have been taken to ensure supply of water for saving standing crop in Godavari delta and for uninterrupted running of the Rayalaseema Thermal Power Station (RTPS) and the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP).

A meeting here today on the water crisis faced by delta farmers and the two projects, chaired by the Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, decided to increase the releases from the Sileru project to 6,000 cusecs from 4,500 cusecs. This discharge joining the Godavari, coupled with whatever little was flowing in the river, was expected to help the crops in the delta.

Yeleru to be tapped

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the Major Irrigation Minister, P. Lakshmaiah, said the additional discharge from Sileru would be through power generation. Water would be lifted from the Yeleru reservoir from its minimum drawdown level (MDDL) through heavy duty pumpsets for ensuring sufficient level of supply to the VSP. The Government would ensure that the plant was run without a break.

On the RTPS, which is also affected by water a shortage, a decision was taken to identify alternatives. Feasibility studies were on to bring water from the Mylavaram dam through pipelines. If the water was allowed to reach the plant passing on the river-bed, the realisation at the end would be only 30 per cent.

Tender process

Regarding the charge that 63 packages of irrigation projects were finalised bypassing the tender process, the Minister said, the tenders were received through e-procurement. The tenders received were being evaluated now. Later, they would be subjected to scrutiny by the high-power committee and the Government. He said the Government had taken steps to avoid rings among bidders.

Release from Sileru to be stepped up

Supply at any cost to VSP

Mylavaram dam to rescue of RTPS

Tackling water crisis

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