Polavaram becomes just another barrage: APSWUAF warns AP government

The AP government has decided to reduce the dam height due to a funds issue with the Central government.Earlier, the Andhra Pradesh government has decided to reduce the height of Polavaram Irrigation Project from 45.

72 metres to 41.15 metres.It has triggered criticism from the opposition and AP State Water Users Associations Federation (APSWUAF) has also voiced against the decision.

The federation demanded the state government drop the plan.With such a move, the multi-purpose-project ends just being a barrage.At a press meet, president of APSWUAF, Alla Venkata Gopala Krishna Rao said, the full reservoir level (FRL)of the dam finalised at 45.72 metres.The present government is reducing it as the Centre said it would only provide funds as per 2013-14 price level.

He expressed his concern that the major multipurpose project would end at just being another barrage in the state.According to his statements, if the storage capacity falls to 140 TMC from 194 TMC, the 7.2 lakh ayacut expected in Krishna, West Godavari, East Godavari and Visakhapatnam districts don’t have water for irrigation.Besides, it is impossible to divert 80 TMC of Godavari water to Krishna.

Further, drinking and industrial water needs (24 TMC) of Visakhapatnam will not be reached.He added, 29 lakh population in 540 villages along the canals won’t get any benefits.

Also, it hampers the Rayalaseema Drought Mitigation Projects, Uttarandhra Sujala Sravanthi, Palnadu Drought Mitigation and other projects, said the APSWUAF president.