The dream comes true for Chittoor farmers

Tirupati: The 30-year-long dream of farmers of Chittoor district will soon become real. They are all set to receive Krishna waters to quench the thirst of their parched lands. The Handri Neeva Sujala Sravanthi (HNSS) - Phase II will deliver water to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's home district at Pulikallu village in B Kothakota mandal in Madanapalle revenue division in two weeks, and to Ramakuppam on January 14.

HNSS was conceptualised by former Chief Minister N T Rama Rao in 1985-86 to provide irrigation water to the lands in villages in western mandals of Chittoor district from the Srisailam reservoir via Anantapur.

In 2006, the then chief minister late YS Rajasekhar Reddy commissioned works relating to the project. After 12 years, the project has more or less been completed under Naidu's regime. Already, Krishna waters have reached Cherlopalli reservoir in Kadiri in Anantapur district.

On January 15, Ramakkuppam would be getting waters under HNSS, resurrecting smiles on farmers. From Cherlopalli, water is expected to reach Punganur main branch canal to Madanapalli on January 7. From there, within a week, the water should reach Kuppam after traversing a distance of 210 km in the branch canal. As on date, the state government has spent Rs 10,000 crore on HNSS phase II.

The contemplated ayacut is 1,81,400 acres in Chittoor district. Two summer storage tanks are also designed to meet the drinking water requirements of people in Madanapalli and Punganur towns. As part of HNSS phase –II, total 38 pumping stations, five tunnels with length of 16.825 km have been completed. Assured water for Chittoor district is six tmcft.

But at present water resource department could supply only 1.5 tmcft in 45 days. The project is considered an engineering marvel since water from Srisailam which is 250 metres above mean sea level has to reach Kuppam which is 1,000 metres above mean sea level. To overcome this problem, 50 pumping stations had been set up to lift water.

HNSS Tirupati circle Chief Engineer R Muralinath Reddy, speaking to The Hans India, said there can be no doubt about supply of water to drought affected Madanapalli first. Later we are going to take Krishna water to Kuppam constituency by Sankranti.

"Our staff are working day and night to meet the deadline," he said, adding: “HNSS main branch canal has been linked to Adavipalli reservoir. From there via Pileru we are going to take water to Chittoor for drinking water requirement of the people. This is also technically a tough task before our engineers, but they are going to do it.”