Water release to be delayed

Vijayawada: The water release from Pattiseema project could be possible only after two more weeks by regulating the Polavaram right canal breach.

According to irrigation officials, the breach was at the temporary arrangement made for bank connection to aqueduct to allow water passage over Tammileru stream at Janampet of West Godavari district.

However, now it requires another two weeks time to regulate the situation and the water release could be possible only after completion of the rebuilding of the structure. As per reports, immediately after releasing water from first pump of Pattiseema project, the aqueduct's connecting point could not support the water flow and after getting breached it diverted the water at Janampet village on Tammileru stream.

It must be noted that as per the original designs, the connecting point structure should be constructed 45 meters wide. However, the officials concerned reportedly made it only 15 metres wide following pressure from higher authorities to release the water as per schedule, which was on September 16.

Four days after the Krishna and Godavari Rivers' confluence was officially announced by CM N. Chandrababu Naidu, the officials released water from the first pump. However, the connecting point walls could not support the heavy flow of water and it led to a breach.

The officials had to stop release of water from the Pattiseema project immediately after the incident. Now, it would take two more weeks before the water is released again, said irrigation department superintending engineer of Polavaram right canal.

Meanwhile, the farming community of Krishna delta is left with no option other than waiting for few more weeks to get water for irrigation purpose. Going by the situation, the Krishna delta may not get water for the present Khariff season.

Krishna Delta Parirakshana Samithi convener Kolanukonda Sivaji, who visited the breach spot, said that the water supply could not be reality for another month.

He added that nearly 10 lakh acres of paddy plantation is yet to be completed and farmers might incur heavy losses this season. He demanded the government to pay compensation for farmers and construct a reservoir to store the Polavaram right canal water.