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Gorukallu reservoir unlikely to serve purpose
The Gorukallu reservoir built at Gorukallu village in Panyam mandal as part of the Galeru-Nagari lift irrigation scheme is unlikely to serve the purpose due to development of leaks even before its commissioning.
- The recent breach in the reservoir exposes poor standard of works of contractors
- Water seeped into their fields as well as homes forcing villagers to go through some sleepless nights
Kurnool: The Gorukallu reservoir built at Gorukallu village in Panyam mandal as part of the Galeru-Nagari lift irrigation scheme is unlikely to serve the purpose due to development of leaks even before its commissioning.
The Congress regime of the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh took up the Gorukallu reservoir project at a cost of Rs 480 crore in 2005 under Jalayagnam to provide irrigation and drinking water to Gorukallu and surrounding villages. As the project with a storage capacity of 12.44 tmc is nearing completion, the irrigation officials started filling up the reservoir one week ago following good rainfall in the area under the influence of depression.
The reservoir had developed leaks soon after getting 1.78 tmc water, exposing the poor quality standards in its execution. Water started gushing out of the leaks submerging agriculture fields and the adjacent areas. The storage of water in the reservoir was stopped following inundation of the village. Paddy fields in the vicinity of the reservoir looked like small tanks. Water also entered houses in the village. The flooding of the village could not be controlled even if motor pumps were used to let out the water leaked from the reservoir.
People of the village feared that the Gorukallu reservoir might be a bane to them instead of a boon due to the greediness of contractors and apathy of irrigation officials. The villagers are spending sleepless nights fearing that the reservoir may cave in at anytime. Some villagers expressed fears that they might be forced to vacate the village if the submersion threat intensifies.
As the reservoir seems to be unsafe, some villagers even came forward to vacate Gorukallu if they were properly rehabilitated. The government should take urgent measures to plug the leaks and strengthen the reservoir after getting a study conducted by irrigation experts on its safety, they said.
D Harikishan
