The new capital region of Andhra Pradesh would have a modern engineering marvel in the form a huge reservoir if the plans of the Chandrababu Naidu government come to fruition.
To be modelled on the lines of Marina Barrage in Singapore (which was built at a cost of $ 135 million US), the proposed dam would be built not only to prevent flooding, but to meet drinking water requirements and also serve as a major tourist attraction.
The Singapore government built the Marina Barrage across the mouth of Marina Channel to create a large freshwater lake that acts as a three-in-one project for flood control, new source of water supply and a major recreational centre. By means of hydraulically-operated gates and pumps, excess water is released into the sea depending whether the tide is high or low.
The Andhra Pradesh government is now keen to build a similar project and wants the proposal to be included in the master plan to be submitted by the Singapore government agencies.
A few officials of the Irrigation Department recently visited Singapore to study if a project on the lines of the Marina Barrage could be replicated.
One of the officials, who visited Singapore, told The Hindu apart from Marina Reservoir, the authorities in Singapore built five detention ponds. Proposals are being studied to build a main dam to contain flooding of Kondaveeti Vagu, which travels a distance of 30 km starting from Lam village, and four detention ponds across Kotela Vagu, Paala Vagu, Erra Vagu and Ayyanna Vagu, which fall into the main Kondaveeti Vagu.
High discharge of about 5,000 cusecs gets released when Kondaveeti Vagu is in floods submerging crops in about 13,500 acres each year and cutting off the road transport. “In Singapore too they faced a similar situation as 150 hectares used to get inundated by floods. They cut it down to 45 hectares now”, he added.
Referring to how the Singaporeans have released excess water into the sea through a system of gates and pumps, he said a similar project was being planned to build a high-level reservoir at a suitable location. Besides storing 3 to 5 tmcft of water, it would serve to control floods, provide water and also could be turned into a major tourist place.
