Vamsadhara gets CWC nod, not enough funds

Srikakulam: Following the tribunal orders appointed by the Supreme Court on Vamsadhara water sharing between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, the Central Water Commission (CWC) on April 4 permitted AP to utilise 8 tmcft from Vamsadhara by diverting water at Katragada in Bhamini mandal in Srikakulam district through a side weir. The river tribunal chairman, Justice Mukundam Sharma, passed an interim order on December 17, 2013 to uitilise 8 tmcft of water from the river by diverting it from the Katragada.

In 2005, the AP government executed works for construction of reservoir at Hira mandal with a storage capacity of 19.5 tmcft at an estimated cost of Rs 934 crore. With the CWC orders in its hand, the government is planning to utilise the water properly. From the river, 17.84 tmcft is being utilised to cultivate crops in an extent of 1.48 lakh acres in the district. To provide water to another 1.10 lakh and to standardise the irrigated area a reservoir was proposed at Hira mandal by diverting water from Katragada through side weir and construct a barrage across the river at Neradi.

Budget allocations not sufficient: For continuing the construction of reservoir on Vamsadhara at Hira mandal, the officials prepared estimates at a cost of Rs 110 crore during the current year for land acquisition, rehabilitation and project works but only Rs 17.99 crore funds allotted in the budget. In 2013 a tribunal appointed by the Supreme Court gave its nod to AP for utilisation of 8 tmcft of water through side weir but funds are not sufficient for side weir, opined the project officials. Only Rs 52.20 crore was allotted for Neradi barrage which was proposed to divert Vamsadhara water in Bhamini mandal but the barrage requires more than Rs 100 crore.

By:Chowdari Lakshmana Rao