Unutilised Nagavali water goes waste into sea

Unutilised Nagavali water goes waste into sea
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Highlights

River Nagavali is the major water source for both the north-eastern coast (NEC) districts of Vizianagaram and Srikakulam in the state. However, the available water in the river is not being utilised properly for drinking water, agricultural or irrigation purposes. As a result, every year, large quantities of water goes unutilised and flows into the sea near the Bay of Bengal.

Srikakulam: River Nagavali is the major water source for both the north-eastern coast (NEC) districts of Vizianagaram and Srikakulam in the state. However, the available water in the river is not being utilised properly for drinking water, agricultural or irrigation purposes. As a result, every year, large quantities of water goes unutilised and flows into the sea near the Bay of Bengal.

Highlights:

  • Total inflow in the last 25 years is 1950.16 tmc ft
  • Only 200.9 tmc ft river water was utilised.
  • 1,749.26 tmc ft of water went into sea

Except the Thotapalli Barrage Project in Vizianagaram and Narayanapuram anicut Project in Srikakulam district, no other important project exists across the Nagavali for utilising its water. After crossing Narayanapuram anicut, the water directly flows into the sea. According to official figures on river water utilisation, the total inflow of river water into the sea was 1950.16 tmc feet for a period of 25 years from 1990 to 2014.

Out of the total quantity of river water available, only 200.9 tmc feet was being used through the major irrigation project, Thotapalli Barrage, and the medium irrigation project Narayanapuram anicut and some small projects in the two districts. The remaining 1,749.26 tmc feet of water flowed into the Bay of Bengal during the span of 25 years.

In 1990, the total inflow of water recorded in Nagavali was 229.720 tmc feet which was the highest in a period of 25 years. Again, in 2014, the total inflow was 191.093 tmc feet of water. In 1991, the total inflow recorded was 164.140 while during the years, 2006 and 2007 were 163.980 tmc feet and 161.240 tmc respectively.

Thotapalli Barrage Project superintending engineer (SE) Dola Tirumala Rao speaking to The Hans India here on Sunday said, “The catchment areas near Nagavail river, situated in both Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts, are not suitable for the construction of major irrigation projects. As a result, we have to construct medium and minor projects at different suitable locations in entire catchment area of the river.”

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