Vijayawada, September 16: In an historic step in the mission to inter-link rivers, Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday becomes one of its first kinds of state link the Godavari River with Krishna.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu performed puja and inaugurated a pylon at Ibrahimpatnam near where Godavari's water, flowing from the neighbouring West Godavari district, was linked to Krishna.
On the occasion, Naidu said that history was being created as the inter-linking of rivers was thought up by eminent engineer and former Union minister KL Rao several decades ago.
The formal linking of the Godavari and Krishna rivers is termed a boon for the farmers in the Krishna delta (mainly those in the Krishna and Guntur districts), who have been facing acute shortage of water after neighbouring Karnataka allegedly raises the height of the Almatti project.
Almatti dam is a hydroelectric project on Krishna river in north Karnataka which was completed in July, 2005.
In his remarks at the event, Naidu recalled that the previous NDA government, headed by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had initiated the scheme for inter-linking rivers even as he rued that the project was "ignored" by the UPA dispensation that had succeeded it.
Citing the advantage of linking Godavari and Krishna River, Naidu on his facebook post said, “The reason for taking up the project on war-footing basis was to save backward region of Rayalaseema from drought conditions”.
Talking further on River-linking, Naidu said, “The water will be lifted into the Polavaram Right Main Canal and through Right Main Canal the Godavari water will be diverted into Krishna River above Prakasam Barrage”.
We can irrigate 1.20 lakh acres in Krishna and West Godavari Districts. Further, about 10 TMC of water to be supplied for domestic and Industrial use in West Godavari and Krishna, said Andhra Pradesh CM
After attending the formal inter-linking, the Andhra Pradesh chief minister was scheduled to switch on the first pump of the Pattiseema lift irrigation scheme in West Godavari.
The Pattiseema scheme is for lifting Godavari waters that now flow into the sea, and diverting it towards Krishna river in the neighbouring Krishna district.
Naidu also said “The river-linking facilitates in raising early seed beds in Krishna Delta and stabilizes the Krishna Delta ayacut. The Krishna water thus saved in Krishna Delta due to augmentation from Godavari River can be retained in Srisailam Reservoir”.
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