HYDERABAD: A master plan has been proposed to modernise the high level and low level canals of Tungabhadra Dam at Hospet in Karnataka that serve an ayacut of 3.5 lakh acres in Rayalaseema.

The plan envisages concrete lining and reconstruction of culverts and other structures to plug seepages and leakages and finally solve the perennial problem of `reduced inflows' reaching Andhra borders. The outlay for modernisation is estimated at Rs. 500 crores for HLC and over Rs. 30 crore for LLC.

According to a study, there is a 30 per cent loss of water in the canals at the Andhra Pradesh-Karnataka border due to seepage, leakage or unauthorised tapping by farmers in Karnataka. Every time the AP Government takes up this issue with the Tungabhadra Board, the discharge from the dam is increased and illegal drawal contained on an adhoc basis.

The Tungabhadra dam was full at the beginning of this season but the flow in the canals was poor till the Board intervened and ordered higher discharge of water. Now, the HLC is receiving a flow of 2,000 cusecs against the stipulated the norm of 2,200 cusecs and the LLC 400 cusecs (600 cusecs).

Less water

Even as the season is heading for a close, water received in the HLC has so far been 19.8 tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) compared to its entitlement of 32 tmcft under the Bachawat Award. The LLC has received only 7.1 tmcft though it was allotted 24 tmcft.

"Karnataka has responded positively to AP's proposal for modernisation and sought a detailed report", Rajv Ranjan Mishra, secretary, Irrigation (Rayalaseema), said. But, the question is whether the inflows will improve after modernisation in view of illegal tapping by farmers. Karnataka will execute the modernisation work on its side for a distance of 103 kms on the HLC and 250 kms on the LLC.

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