Tall clams of Naidu on drought-proofing Seema

AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has vowed to make Anantapur fertile. He took credit as the only CM who was able to bring Krishna water to the Gollapudi reservoir, say reports. Taking cue from the CM, a section of press reports stated it heralded an era of plenty in Rayalaseema. But it sounds like a common saying: 'Producing more heat than light' (Heat ekkva; light takkva.).

As per his own admission and it is an accomplished fact that it is part of the Handri Neeva Sujala Sravanti Scheme (HNSSS), the longest water canal (more than 550 km) project in Rayalaseema. Commencing at Malyayla, the HNSSS is conceived and designed to provide irrigation facilities to six lakh acres and reliable drinking water supply, en route in four districts of Rayalaseema by drawing only food waters from the Srisailam Reservoir – but not assured waters.

The canal passes through Handri river in Kurnool district and many small rivers in the region and ends near Neeva in Chittoor district, and hence the name. To tell the truth, the project was conceived by Sir Arthur Cotton. However, designs were finalised during the NT Rama Rao government and finally the construction started during the tenure of Y S Rajasekhara Reddy in 2005. In order to achieve full requirements of drinking and irrigation water of the region, more than 50 tmcft of water is required.

It envisages 8 projects, including Gollapalli, with 13 lifts. The capacity of the Gollapalli Reservoir is 1.6 tmcft; one twentieth of Gandikota and one by three hundredth of Nagarjuna Sagar. Since there is no assured water, we have to depend upon the mercy of the Coastal Andhra. Hence it is fallacious on the part of Naidu to claim that drought and famine would wither away from Rayalaseema. As per a rough estimation, about 330 tmcft of water is required to meet the demands of Anantapur district alone to grow one irrigable dry crops.

There are a few justifiable, age old demands of the Rayalaseema: 1. The carryover waters of Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar shall be declared as the assured waters for Rayalaseema; 2. 45 tmcft of water saved from Pattiseema, must be allotted to Rayalaseema through HNSSS and Galeru Nagari Srujala Sravathni Schemes. (GNSSS); 3. Our government must persuade Karnataka to agree to build parallel canals to High Level and Low Level Canals to utilise the full quota of the allotted water from the Tungabhadara Project (TBP).

Neighboring Karnataka and Telangana are successful in similar ventures; 4. Since by diverting the Godavari Waters, the needs of the lower riparian districts will be met with, Krishna Waters must be statutorily reallocated and Rayalaseema must get 400 tmcft; 5. Construction of Siddeswaram Alagu in Kurnool district must be taken up.

It is creditable that defying ban orders, promulgation of Section 144 and bearing the scorching sun, a huge mob of farmers and Rayalaseema political leaders, across party lines, gathered at Siddeswaram temple in Kurnool district on May 31, 2016, and laid the foundation stone for the Siddeswaram Alugu project, across the Krishna. One byline: Gathering was not supplied food and water by the organisers. Every individual brought his own. This, in spite of the fact that the police kept some leaders under house arrest and drove the farmers away.

It is undisputed that the Project would store about 80 tmcft of water and cost would be just Rs 600 crore; cheapest by any means. The sight, amidst two hillocks separated by the river by a distance of 450 metres looks as though the river created it to shower mercy on Rayalaseema. Siddeswaram too is a dream project of Sir Arthur Cotton. If constructed, it can quench the thirst of lakhs of parched lands of Rayalaseema. To accomplish his dream of being the Modern Sri Krishnadevaraya, Chandrababu Naidu shall fulfil these tasks.

By K C Kalkura