Uncertainty in receiving irrigation water for the past several years has led to the demand from people of North western Krishna district that a lift irrigation scheme be provided to stabilise about 2 lakh acres of existing ayacut. The proposal is to take 2,000 cusecs in three phases. Served by a network of canals in Zone–III of Nagarjuna Sagar Project Left Main canal, Mylavaram, A. Konduru, Nuzvid, and parts of Khammam district literally go without water even if it is released by July 15, and for the past two years it has been worse with no releases for rabi. The Andhra Pradesh State Irrigation Development Corporation has taken up a feasibility study on implementing a lift irrigation scheme in three phases at Kondapalli from where water will be lifted and carried to the existing Mylavaram Branch Canal of the NSP at 12.5-km chainage and two other points in three phases. Corporation Executive Engineer Subba Rao told The Hindu that the head works would consist of 7,500 HP motors for each phase and water lifted up to 90 metres at the end point without any intermediary pumping. The MS pipes would carry water without loss and add to stabilise the 3,200 cusecs of assured water in the Mylavaram Branch Canal. Details of the scheme were being worked out. They would be submitted to the State government for approval later.
Mylavaram MLA Devineni Umamaheswara Rao is taking an active role in getting the study done so that he could get the scheme included in the CM’s assurances.
“Even if the project is not launched by the Congress government in the next two years, TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu will lay the foundation and clear the proposal when he comes to power in 2014,” the MLA said.
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Water would be lifted from the point in the Krishna where the Budameru diversion channel, the proposed Polavaram water channel, and water from NTTPS join the river, they explained. Water availability was not at all a problem and permissions could be obtained within the State without approaching the Central Water Commission. Funds for the project would come through the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP), said Mr. Subba Rao.
The expenditure for the project was being worked out and it was likely to be close to Rs.90,000 per acre against the Rs.2 lakh being spent on major projects and the Cost:Benefit ratio was likely to be 1:2.5, Mr. Subba Rao added. Power consumption is expected to be about 5,000 KW per pressure main (each phase).