Reservoir to be built upstream of Prakasam barrage

Vijayawada: Irrigation department has decided to construct a reservoir between Damuluru village of Krishna district and Vaikunthapuram village of Guntur district upstream of Prakasam barrage to store 10 TMC water. The proposed reservoir has been pending for three years.

The YSRCP government earlier decided to construct two check dams downstream of Prakasam barrage to store the flood waters. Now, the government has decided to construct a reservoir upstream of Prakasam barrage.

Pulichintala was the last reservoir in Krishna river with water storage capacity of 42 TMC. During this flood season 530 TMC of water released into sea from Prakasam barrage. Due to lack of storage facility between Pulichintala and Prakasam barrage, the water was released into sea. If 10 TMC water was stored in the reservoir upstream of Prakasam barrage, the water can be used for the irrigation purposes in rabi season and drinking water purposes in the districts of Krishna, Guntur and Prakasam districts.

During the summer, some drinking water tanks face scarcity of water. The previous TDP government had proposed to construct a reservoir connecting Damaluru village of Krishna district and Vaikunthapuram village of Guntur district. Former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu laid foundation stone for construction of the reservoir before the Assembly elections in 2019. But the proposals were kept pending due to various reasons.

Panchayat Raj Minister and the Krishna district in-charge Minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy said that the state government will construct a reservoir upstream of Prakasam barrage and will call for the tenders very soon.

He addressed the Irrigation Advisory Board meeting on Friday and informed the officials that the state cabinet has agreed to construct a reservoir between Damuluru and Vaikunthapuram villages. If the reservoir was constructed upstream of Prakasam barrage, the water can be used for the capital Amaravati and other nearby villages in Guntur district.