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Odisha comes to rescue of delta
In a major relief to water starved Godavari Delta, Odisha government has decided to release 4,000 cusecs of water from Balimela to Sileru. This would come handy to save the standing Rabi crops in the Godavari delta.
Godavari delta crops to get 4,000 cusecs from Balimela
Hyderabad: In a major relief to water starved Godavari Delta, Odisha government has decided to release 4,000 cusecs of water from Balimela to Sileru. This would come handy to save the standing Rabi crops in the Godavari delta.
Speaking to The Hans India, Potteru Project Engineer Raju Naik said, “We have been calculating the inflows coming from Balimela Hydroelectric Project. We have decided to release the water as per the requisition of the AP Genco to the Sileru.”
Though the inflows from the Machkund Hydroelectric Project from the upstream of Balimela at the moment are satisfactory, it needs to be seen whether the same inflows would continue by middle of February, the officials pointed out.
Irrigation officials said the farmers under the Godavari Delta had been preparing seedling beds in phases. Accordingly, the water demand would be met by releases in different phases keeping in view the requirement of different areas in the delta. Though there was a delay in the plantation activity on account of truant rain, farmers had en masse gone ahead with the preparation of seedbeds and plantation around the same time.
This resulted in demand for water. With Godavari levels depleting, situation had turned grim, said State E-in-C Venkateswara Rao. The delta needs 10 tmc feet of water during Rabi season, and the government had requisitioned about 4 tmc feet water from Balimela project.
Since it is not enough, the irrigation department is trying to augment 4 tmc feet to 5 tmc feet of water from containing seepage, pumping out the water from the existing irrigation canal system under the Irrigation and Command Area of Godavari Delta, the officials added.
Despite rolling out an alternative plan of bringing water from Sileru and optimum utilisation of existing water sources from the irrigation canals, irrigation officials estimate that there will be a shortage of 3 tmc feet to 4 tmc feet of water to meet the demand of Rabi in the delta.
