Vijayawada: Godavari-Penna interlinking works begin

Vijayawada: Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL) has begun the work of the inter-linking of Godavari-Penna Rivers with a focus of completing it before the deadline. When the Government of Andhra Pradesh invited tenders for interlinking work, MEIL took part in the tender and won the first phase.

Recently, Chief Minister Mr Chandrababu Naidu laid a stone at Nakarikallu in Guntur district for the project. The CM requested officials to complete the project within 12 months though the actual deadline is 24 months. Mr Naidu wants to complete the project by next Kharif season. 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 much faster pace.

Earth work of the third pump house began with a traditional pooja at Krosur in Guntur district. A 45-kilometre canal and pipeline work also began to connect the Vaikuntapuram to Rajupalem upper banks of Prakasam Barrage. Out of this 45-kilometre canal 39.8 km will be developed as a Gravity canal.

A 4.575 km six-lane pipeline with a 3.5-metre diameter and three pump houses three pressure mines will be built. Each pump house will have six pumps. Water will be lifted to 14.5 metres height at Vaikuntapuram from Krishna River at the beginning and finally, water will be drained into Ssagar right canal from 65 metres of height. 18 pumps in three pump houses will lift the 7,000 cusecs of water per day and a 73tmc of water in 120 days.

To lift this water it requires 220 megawatts of power. The Godavari river water has been merged with Krishna River by Pattiseema and Chintapudi lift irrigation schemes. From there water will be redirected to Penna River in a phased manner. The government has taken up this project to supply water to Sagar’s right canal ayacut in Guntur and Prakasam districts. This is a replication of the earlier project Godavari water for Krishna delta by Pattiseema lift irrigation scheme by June.

Godavari and Penna River linking will be done in five phases. In the first two phases, Godavari water will lift into Nagarjunasagar right canal. Survey and other related works to this project will be ready. Designs are in the permissions stage. With the farmers’ cooperation, if the land acquisition is successfully completed, 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. 5,12,150 acres of farmland in 39 mandals of Prathipadu, Tadikonda, Pedaku-rapadu, Vinukonda, Chilakaluripet, Narsa-raopet, Gurajala constituencies in Guntur district will be stabilised. 40 mandals in 4,49,081 acres of farmland in Prakasam district in Yerragondapalem, Kondepi, Ongole, Darsi, Santanuthalapadu, Parchuru, Addanki constituents also will be stabilised.