Work on repairs to Yeleru Left Main Canal, one of the major sources of water supply to the city, is going on briskly with about half the time of the scheduled month’s closure over.
About 30 to 40 per cent of the repair work has been completed with 1000 men and 14 earth-moving machines deployed, it was learnt. Simultaneously, work on the incomplete water supply canal is also being taken up by the Irrigation Department.
The repairs, de-silting as well as supply canal work is being taken up ahead of the Purushottapuram Lift Irrigation Scheme completion so as to receive more water from the Yeleru reservoir through the canal. A total of 31 works are being taken up by VIWSCO in various stretches of the 156-km canal that passes through East Godavari and Visakhapatnam for repairs and de-silting.
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In the first reach up to 48 km 12 structures are being covered with drains either going below the canal or above it.
In the second reach from 48 to 99 km, before and after the tunnel the silt is being removed sometimes going up the depth 28 meters to 30 meters. “It is a difficult stretch with rocky terrain where taking machines and removing silt is particularly difficult,” say sources.
The repairs also deal with the aqueducts on the Varaha and the Serpa rivers where the embankments are leaking. Cross-bunds are erected wherever it is necessary so as to drain water and take up work. The 31 works are being carried out in five agreements with a cost of Rs.3.08 crore.
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Supply canal
The supply canal runs for 32.6 km from 118 km and lining for a part of it- up to 24.2 km- has been completed earlier. The Irrigation Department has taken up further work on it.