Agitation on the cards for completion of Gundlamotu

Giddalur: The Gundlamotu reservoir is a small project in Giddalur mandal of Prakasam district. The  government announced construction of Gundlamotu minor irrigation project in 1963. The local people are readying for an agitation. An advocate will be leading the movement and starting a padayatra in support of the project. 

The western part of Prakasam district is dry and has no water source as it depends on rains. But the streams from the Nallamala hills feed various rivulets like Enumuleru in the area and fill small tanks in the nearby area.

After several requests from the locals, the government conducted a survey around 1960 and the then Irrigation and Power minister AC Subbareddy announced in the Assembly that the government would construct the Gundlamotu reservoir with 605 metres length and 16 metre height with 0.32 tmcft capacity at 6kmsfrom Diguvametta.

In 1977, the construction of the project was started at 20 km from Giddalur. But the cyclone that hit the area in 1979 breached the project for nearly 50 feet and the machinery was also washed away. When the works were restarted, there were breaches due to cyclones in i987 and 1996.

If completed, the Gundlamotu project can supply water for 2,500 acres for agriculture needs and drinking water for 14 villages. In 2007 and 2009, the government sanctioned Rs 7 crores and Rs 5 crores respectively to strengthen and complete the project.

The government also proposed to construct a pickup anicut, at 2 km down the project and two canals. It was planned to supply water to the tanks in villages of Telakapalli, Venkatapuram, Uyyalawada, Krishtamsetty Palle etc.

However, since then, the officials have been deferring the dead line for completion of the project.  K Ravi, superintending engineer (irrigation) in Prakasam district said that there is a dispute for permissions between the forest, revenue and irrigation departments. He said that the water that could be stored in the project after completion will submerge an area under the forest department.

In February end, an advocate Bareddy Narayana Reddy issued notices to the Government of Andhra Pradesh, Irrigation Minister demanding the action taken by them on the contractors and concerned officials for not completing the project. 

By Naresh Nandam