An additional barrage across the Krishna upstream the Prakasam barrage to augment the water supply to capital Amaravati is not necessary and instead the water can be brought from Pulichintala by a pipeline through gravity.
This was opinion expressed by a retired engineer A.V.L. Bhuganja Rao following Minister for Water Resources Devineni Umamaheswara Rao’s announcement a few days ago that the government was contemplating construction of the additional barrage, to impound water from the Krishna’s tributaries like Kandaleru, Kalteru, Munneru and Wyra.
There is no need for another dam since Pulichintala is having a capacity of 45 tmcft and an FRL of 53.34 metres, or water can be drawn from Prakasam barrage, he said. At least Rs. 2,000 crore are needed for the new barrage and this heavy expenditure could be avoided by laying a pipeline which might need pumping at a few intermediate places, he felt.
The foreshore waters of Prakasam barrage might also make construction of the new barrage difficult, Mr. Bhujanga Rao. He also suggested de-silting of Prakasam barrage to increase its capacity. Construction of reservoirs on the tributaries could also be taken up, he added.
