Farmers want Karnataka to chip in

Anantapur: Farmers of Kadapa, Kurnool and Anantapur districts are demanding that the Karnataka government simultaneously take up HLC modernisation from its end as works on the AP side are fast progressing. This is necessary to derive mutual benefit and prevent water wastage.

The HLC modernisation works worth Rs 450 crore which is being executed on the AP side will not yield the desired results unless Karnataka government takes up canal modernisation from its side.

The Chief Ministers of both Karnataka and AP States had agreed for the modernisation of Right Bank High Level Canal in 2015 but the Karnataka government is yet to commence modernisation works from Tungabhadra dam.

AP on its side had commenced modernisation works. The entire Right Bank High Level Canal from Karnataka needs to be modernised to facilitate 32.5 tmcft of water to reach AP hassle-free.

The modernisation works were aimed at increasing the carrying capacity of the canal to draw more water during floods. The Tungabhadra Board authorities are yet to hear from the Karnataka government on its canal modernisation plans.

The modernisation works became necessary due to decline in water flows from the allocated 32.5 tmcft to 26 tmcft and also due to reduction in reservoir intake capacity from 132 tmcft to 100 tmcft at the Tungabhadra dam in Karnataka.

The modernisation works involved strengthening of canal bunds and widening them, arresting seepage of water, desilting of the canal and other related works. The project includes execution of six packages worth Rs 250 crore.

The project which was supposed to be completed in a couple of years in 2010 was inordinately delayed and only 50 per cent of works were completed. During the Congress government, the works were executed at a snail’s pace and finally the works came to a grinding halt due to the contractors’ reluctance to continue works, poor allocation of funds and non-payment of contractors’ bills.

After the TDP government came to power, it had decided to go ahead with the modernisation works including canal lining, plugging leakages and strengthening of canal banks. The HLC modernisation works benefitted farmers in Karnataka, Anantapur, Kadapa and Kurnool districts in AP.

The works that were stopped midway are now restarted after the contractors agreed to complete works at old rates. There is growing demand among a section of the ruling party functionaries that the old contracts and contractors should be dispensed with and new tenders should be called for.

Irrigation officials see no point in this demand as the contractors agreed to complete the project at old rates giving no scope for cost escalation. If the old contractors are dispensed with, the project cost would escalate to Rs 1,100 crore from Rs 450 crore.

Speaking to 'The Hans India,' HLC superintending engineer Seshagiri Rao said that both the States would mutually benefit if modernisation works are taken up by Karnataka.

He said that the major benefit of modernisation works include an increased intake of inflows from 2,800 cusecs to 4,200 cusecs. During floods, due to canal widening, it can contain more water and increases intake by another 4 to 5 tmcft of water apart from bringing down seepage losses by 20 per cent, he added.

Seshagiri Rao said in the past, after the water is released from the Tungabhadra dam, it used to take three days to arrive in AP whereas after modernisation, the water would reach AP within 24 hours.

He said the canal modernisation would help in preventing seepage losses up to 10 tmcft of water which is very precious to a district like Anantapur.