Work on interlinking of Godavari, Penna begins

Vijayawada: Engineering giant, Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL), launched work on interlinking of Godavari-Penna rivers in order to complete the project within stipulated time.

It may be recalled that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu while laying the foundation stone at Nakarikallu in Guntur district for the project, requested MEIL to complete the project within 12 months though the actual deadline is 24 months.

With the experience of completing the Pattiseema Project in record time, MEIL is gearing up to complete this prestigious Godavari-Penna river interlinking project at a fast pace. Earthworks for the third pump house began at Krosur in Guntur district.

Simultaneously, 45-km canal and pipeline work also began to connect Vaikuntapuram to Rajupalem upper bank of Prakasam Barrage. Out of the 45-km canal, 39.8 km will be developed as gravity canal. Water will be lifted to 14.5 metres height at Vaikuntapuram from Krishna River at the beginning and finally, water will be drained into Nagarjuna Sagar right canal from 65 metres of height. As many as 18 pumps in three pump houses will lift 7,000 cusecs of water per day and 73 tmcft of water in 120 days which requires 220 MW power.

Godavari river water will be merged with Krishna river by Pattiseema and Chintapudi lift irrigation schemes. From there water will be redirected to Penna river in phases. The government has taken up this project to supply water to Nagarjuna Sagar’s right canal ayacut in Guntur and Prakasam districts. This is replication of the earlier project of Godavari water for Krishna delta by Pattiseema lift irrigation scheme.

Godavari and Penna river linking will be done in five phases. In the first two phases, Godavari water will be lifted into Nagarjuna Sagar right canal. If the land acquisition is successfully completed with the cooperation of farmers, this project will provide water to drought-hit Prakasam district. With Godavari and Penna river interlinking, 79 mandals of Guntur and Prakasam districts will get irrigation, drinking water and also water for industrial needs.

As many as 5.12 lakh acres in 39 mandals of Prathipadu, Tadikonda, Pedakurapadu, Vinukonda, Chilakaluripet, Narsaraopet and Gurajala constituencies in Guntur district and 4.49 lakh acres in 40 mandals of Yerragondapalem, Kondepi, Ongole, Darsi, Santanuthalapadu, Parchuru and Addanki constituencies in Prakasam district will be stabilised.