Close on the heels of controversy over Palamur Lift Irrigation Scheme, the Irrigation department raked up another one by recommending 30 tmcft to Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) out of the savings on account of Polavaram project.
The SLBC which draws water from backwaters of Srisailam reservoir provides irrigation to 2.70 lakh acres in Nalgonda district. The Polavaram project is proposed to divert 80 tmcft to Krishna basin at Prakasam barrage. As per the inter-State accord on Polavaram project, 45 tmcft is to be allocated to the projects above Nagarjunasagar in AP and 35 tmcft to Karnataka and Maharashtra.
A technical Advisory Committee, recommended allocation of 30 tmcft to SLBC and 15 tmcft to drinking water scheme. There was no mention of Hundri-Neeva project which supplies water to irrigation and drinking water needs of Kurnool and Anantapur district. The panel, which convened its meeting in March this year, argued that the government was committed to providing assured water allocation to SLBC through a GO in 1981 and also through subsequent orders. Moreover, a Telangana project should be given priority where only SRSP project provided water through gravity canals and the rest were lift irrigation schemes.
