Naidu govt ties into knots over Pattiseema

Douts and fears of YSRCP, delta farmers and Telangana go unanswered over share of upper riparian States. Polavaram fate also causes concern

Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh Assembly has been on the boil over the Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Project. Till now, Pattiseema is known as a small town to nearby people and the tourists who visit Papikondalu. The town on the banks of river Godavari became news headlines, when the AP government suddenly announced a lift irrigation project, named after it. It did not find mention in the election manifesto of the TDP.

Claiming that around 3,000 tmcft of Godavari river water was going waste into the sea, the Chandrababu Naidu government hit upon the idea of a lift irrigation project at the town to Godavari water to Krishna for transfer to Srisailam project and thereafter to the drought-prone Rayalaseema. Recently, the project was awarded to MEIL which quoted 21.9 per cent higher than the proposed project cost. It has to complete the project within a year.However, the clamour against the project is intensifying as the AP government has expressed its resolve to go ahead with the project. Even Telangana has joined the chorus against the project.

The Telangana State has to get additional allocation of Krishna water if Godavari waters were to be diverted to Krishna as per the Bachawat award. The TS government would go to any extent to oppose the move by Andhra Pradesh. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu vociferously defended the project in the Assembly and deplored that the Opposition was trying to block the project meant to provide irrigation to the parched Rayalaseema region, mainly Anantapur district. But Naidu’s defence is inexplicable – the government order or GO, issued in regard to the project, is conspicuously silent as far as providing water to Rayalaseema to help the region overcome drought and scarcity of drinking water.

It says water would be lifted for 100 days in a year – 100 days during which period? If it is during the peak period of water supply to the delta region, Godavari districts would stand to lose immensely. Analysts point out the government’s original intent behind taking up the project on a war-footing is to cater to the huge water requirements of a world-class capital proposed on Krishna riverfront. A big city and several industries around it are on the drawing board.Skeptics who point out the Rs 1,300 crore budget for the Pattiseema project quip that it will be of no use, unless Polavaram, the multi-purpose national project, is completed. The Pattiseema Project will ultimately result in inordinate delays for Polavaram which barely got any allocation worth mentioning in the Union Budget for 2015-16.

Apart from charges and counter charges over allegation of corruption in the Pattiseema project, there are some vital issues which beg answers.As per the Clause 7 (e) of the Second Chapter in the Godavari Water Dispute Tribunal, it is clearly mentioned that Maharashtra and Karnataka are at liberty to utilise their share of 35 tmcft. “It is also agreed that if the diversion at 75 per cent dependability as stated in clause (a) above exceeds, the said quantity of 80 tmcft due for diversion form Godavari from the proposed Polavaram Project into Krishna river, further diminishing the releases from Nagarjunasagar Project such excess quantity shall also be shared between the three States in the same proportion as in sub-clause (b) above,” stated in the clause 7(f) of the same manual.

Thus, if Maharashtra, Karnataka demand their fair share, the spirit of Pattiseema will be lost. AP has to share the water with the upper states. They demand their due share, which could be 21 tmcft for Karnataka and 14 tmcft to Maharashtra. Another issue that the government is avoiding is storage of flood water. There is no such facility between Pattiseema and Prakasam Barrage. The storage capacity of Prakasam Barrage is only 3 tmcft. Even the reservoir under Pothireddipadu project and canal is not yet completed.

The Pattiseema project is intended to lift of water for 109 days. As per the assumptions, it takes 24 hours to lift 1 tmcft at a flow of 11,000 cusecs. This is possible only when there is flood in the Krishna river. When there is no flood, maintaining the level in Srisailam reservoir to ensure water flow through the Pothireddypadu head regulator, will again raise another issue between the two Telugu states. Moreover, Krishna and Godavari receive floods at the same time, if there is vigorous monsoon. Then what would happen to the water diverted from Godavari is the moot question to be answered.

Apart from it, if the government deviates from its promise that the water from the river Godavari would be lifted only during floods and starts drawing water even during summer, the entire fertile lands in the Godavari delta would turn barren as Godavari water would be diverted to Krishna river.AP government says only flood water will be diverted. But no discussions were held with farmers of the Godavari delta. If Godavari delta loses its available share, the people in the region would go the Rayalaseema way. What about the fate of farmers of Godavari delta, who are being deprived of the excess flow, is another major question that remains unanswered.

By G Balakrishna