The Hindu : Front Page : Polavaram: wall to protect villages

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Thursday, Oct 26, 2006
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Polavaram: wall to protect villages

Special Correspondent

44-km-long flood bank to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 307 crores

HYDERABAD: Faced with criticism against possible extensive submersion in Khammam district, the State Government has introduced a new component to the Polavaram project to protect the threatened villages. It will construct a 44-km-long flood bank at a cost of Rs. 307.5 crores.

The flood bank will be a massive structure with a height of 189 feet. It has been so designed since the water level in the Godavari had touched 182.6 feet, the highest point in its recorded history at Bhadrachalam during the worst-ever floods in 1986 when the inflows reached 35 lakh cusecs.

During this year's monsoon, there were widespread apprehensions that the Polavaram project, once completed, would wreak havoc in Khammam district.

Major Irrigation Minister P. Lakshmaiah said here on Wednesday that the "China Wall-like structure" would have a free-board of 6 ft above the level touched in 1986 and act as a barrier. Quoting an empirical study, he said the 1986 kind floods, however, would occur only once in 500 years.

Talking to reporters after discussions with officials on various aspects of the much-criticised project, the Minister said Polavaram dam would, however, be constructed to a height of 150 ft but it would be capable of discharging flood water of 49 lakh cusecs.

The study showed that such a level of flood would occur only once in 10,000 years. Satish Chandra, secretary, irrigation, was present.

Mr. Lakshmaiah said a maximum of 28.5 lakh cusecs flowed down from Bhadrachalam during the recent floods when the water level touched 173.9 ft. About 250 villages were inundated in Khammam district (45 more than estimated). Only one village (Mysamma Gudi) was flooded additionally in East Godavari above the estimated 42. The flooding was confined to 29 in West Godavari as originally anticipated.

Compensation

The Minister said most of the villages coming under submergence were in Khammam district, especially the Chintoor area. The flood bank planned would protect them all.

He said plans were afoot to pay compensation for lands, houses and structures located up to 100 metres from the full reservoir level of 150 ft.

He called "false" the reports that the satellite imageries taken on August 7 had showed that 359 villages were inundated as against 276 estimated under the project. The report was yet another propaganda by the Opposition with a view to thwarting the Jalayagnam programme.

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