Godavari-Penna rivers interlinking: Naidu to lay stone for the mega project on November 26.

The long-awaited project of interlinking the Godavari river with Penna is all set to take shape with Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu scheduled to lay the foundation stone recently. In the first phase, the interlinking of these two major rivers will help solve drinking water and irrigation problems in south coastal Andhra. In the second phase, it will benefit the parched Rayalaseema region.

The interlinking project was conceived several decades ago and thus far it had been gathering dust in official cupboards. The completion of the ambitious project would Rayalaseema region drought proof.

According to officials, Andhra Pradesh has been the number one state in India in terms of interlinking of rivers. The Godavari and the Krishna were linked three years ago, and the linking of the Penna would ensure flood water flow into the three delta systems – Krishna, Godavari and Penna.

Penna river flows through Anantapur, Kadapa, Kurnool, Chittoor and Nellore districts. But the meagre water resources in the river are not able to cater to the needs of these districts. On the other hand, a major share of Godavari water flows into the sea during the monsoon season. “If the Penna and Godavari rivers were linked it will benefit all the districts in Rayalaseema region,” an official statement said.

The state government has proposed to complete the Godavari-Penna interlinking projects in five phases at an estimated cost of Rs. 83,796 crore. The first phase involves works worth Rs. 6020.15 crore. Naidu will lay the foundation stone at Nakirekallu in Guntur district.

In the first phase 8500 cusecs of water from Pattiseema and 6870 cusecs of water from Chintalapudi lift will be taken to Prakasam barrage. From Prakasam barrage 7000 cusecs of water will be taken to Nagarjunasagar right main canal by laying 10.25 km pipeline from Krishna river and gravity canal at a stretch of 56.35 km and using five lifts.

The lifts will be set up at Harischandrapuram, Lingapuram, Vyyandana, Gangireddypalem and Nakirekallu. By bringing Godavari water up to Nakirekallu and linking to Nagarjunasagar right main canal, over 9.61 lakh acres in Guntur and Prakasam districts will be stabilised.

TOI