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Muchhumarri project a big blow to Telangana
The Muchhumarri project near Nandikotkur being executed by Andhra Pradesh government in Kurnool district is likely to pose serious threat to the inflows into Jurala and Srisailam projects which would adversely affect the interests of the Telangana State. Though works are going on at a brisk pace, the Telangana government seems to be in deep slumber.
The Muchhumarri project near Nandikotkur being executed by Andhra Pradesh government in Kurnool district is likely to pose serious threat to the inflows into Jurala and Srisailam projects which would adversely affect the interests of the Telangana State. Though works are going on at a brisk pace, the Telangana government seems to be in deep slumber.
Interestingly, the Muchhumarri project has neither water allocation nor necessary permission. Andhra Pradesh will fix 16 motors to draw water to the Kurnool- Kadapa Canal and Handri- Neeva Canal. This, according to irrigation experts, will cause severe loss to Telangana.
Highlights:
- Irrigation experts say it will cause severe loss to Telangana; if completed the Palamuru & Kalwakurthy projects will dry up affecting 18-lakh acre ayacut
- Devineni Umamaheswara Rao visited the project site several times and ordered expeditious completion of the work for providing water to Rayalaseema
- Muchhumarri lift irrigation project taken up by YSR govt in 2008
The experts pointed out that the project provides for lifting of water to nine pump houses along the Handri- Neeva Canal, besides the mini-reservoirs and streams in the region and diversion of water to the Velugodu project. They warn that once the Muchhumarri project gets completed the Palamuru and Kalwakurthy projects would go dry depriving irrigation to 18 lakh acre ayacut under the two projects.
Hence, the experts want the Muchhumarri project to be immediately stopped. The Andhra Pradesh government is focusing on completing the project in view of its benefits. Water Resources Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao has visited the project site several times and ordered expeditious completion of the work.
He directed the department officials to install at least 12 motors under the first phase of the project to pump water.As the installation has been delayed due to various reasons, Nandikotkur MLA Isaiah is getting ready for an agitation. He has threatened to go on hunger strike if the government fails to divert water to Rayalaseema by October.
Following this, the Andhra Pradesh government has expedited the project work, thus setting stage for more problems for the TS government. It may be re called that the Muchhumarri lift irrigation project was taken up by the YSR government in 2008 after recognising that if the water level in the Srisailam dam was to be maintained at 840 ft, water would be ensured to other projects in Rayalaseema.
It was designed to provide 40 tmc ft for meeting both irrigation and drinking water needs. After the TDP was voted to power in 2014, the project work has been put on fast track. Sixteen motors are to be used to lift water from the Srisailam backwaters to Rayalaseema.
If water is to be diverted from the Pothireddypadu head regulator to Rayalaseema, the water level at Srisailam dam should be maintained at 854 ft. Also a level of 841 ft is to be maintained in the dam to facilitate pumping of water from the Handri- Neeva project. With this project, it would be possible for the AP government to take away water when the levels reach 810 ft.
By: D Harikishan from Kurnool and Naresh Sankepally from Hyderabad
