Rajahmundry: The Polavaram irrigation project’s right main canal work will be completed by July, 2017. The right main canal (RMC) stretches to a distance of 177 km. The canal width at its beginning is over in 85 metres while at the tail end, it is about 73 meters. When the state government started execution of Pattiseema lift irrigation project at Pattisam village of Polavaram mandal in West Godavari, it expedited the long pending land acquisition by offering better compensation to the affected farmers, for RMC.
Water resources authorities say that the land acquisition issue is over and at present, they are concentrating on taking up several major structures including a tunnel for the passage of water.
Cement-concrete lining of the canal bed and side walls will be taken up as it was done only for some distance. This lining is meant to avoid seepage of water into the earth when water is released into the canal whenever Godavari witnesses floods and there is a requirement for water in Krishna delta region. Water resources superintending engineer for RMC, B. Srinivas Yadav said, the RMC works are being taken up in an expeditious manner as several court litigations pertaining to land acquisition have been resolved by offering better relief to the affected farmers as per government directions. If we are able to continue the same pace of work, we will complete the canal works completely by July, 2017.’’
On the other hand, as Godavari is enjoying a huge inflow of water following rain in its catchment areas in the last few days and there is a requirement for water for cultivation of crops in Krishna delta, water resources authorities are diverting Godavari river water to Krishna delta through RMC. At present, nearly 5,300 cusecs of water is being diverted as 15 motors are functioning at Pattiseema lift irrigation project.
The released water travels 177 km distance in RMC by gravity and enters Budameru Diversion Channel at Velagaleru village and travels a distance of 11.9 km to enter the Krishna at Pavitra Sangham of Ibrahimpatnam in Krishna district. Water resources authorities say that inflow of water into the river is slowly dwindling and at present, they are releasing 60,000 cusecs of water into the sea from Sir Arthur Cotton barrage at Dowleswaram. Godavari river conservator, N. Krishna Rao, said, “We are expecting the inflow of water into the river to stop in the next four to five days as there is no rainfall in the river’s catchment area and there will be no release of water into the sea.’’
