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New lease of life for Vamsadhara project
Vamsadhara Water Dispute Tribunal’s verdict has not only ended the six-decade long dispute but it helped to boost agriculture in the ayacut. A total of 2.08 lakh acres of lands under Vamsadhara ayacut would get water during kharif season and there would be possibilities for supplying water for crops during rabi as well.
Srikakulam: Vamsadhara Water Dispute Tribunal’s verdict has not only ended the six-decade long dispute but it helped to boost agriculture in the ayacut. A total of 2.08 lakh acres of lands under Vamsadhara ayacut would get water during kharif season and there would be possibilities for supplying water for crops during rabi as well.
At present 1.48 lakh acres are being cultivated during kharif season under Vamsadhara ayacut area through existing Gotta Barrage located near to Hiramandalam. With the tribunal order decks are cleared for proposed reservoir at Hiramandalam.The estimated storage capacity of the reservoir is 19 tmcft, which is sufficient to stabilize existing ayacut under Gotta Barrage and will cover another 60,000 acres making total ayacut at 2.08 lakh acres.
Highlights:
- Area under ayacut to be increased by 60,000 acres
- 40 per cent of crop lands in district to get water guarantee for at least one crop
- Possibility of water supply for rabi crop
The total irrigated land during kharif season in the district is 5.08 lakh acres and 40 per cent of the lands would get guarantee water for at least one crop with the tribunal verdict.
The then Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy laid foundation stone for Vamsadhara reservoir project in 2005 with an estimated cost of Rs 933 crore with plans to divert water from Vamsadhara river through side weir at Katragada in Bhamini mandal. However, Odisha government raised objections and tribunal passed interim orders on December 17, 2013 for utilisation of 8 tmcft water through side weir.
Due to objections from Odisha government and land acquisition issues the project works were delayed for 12 years increasing the project cost to Rs 1,689 crore from Rs 933 rore.
Commenting on the verdict, minsters K Kala Venkata Rao and K Atchannaidu termed Vamsadhara project as life line for Srikakulam. “It covers 40 per cent of the total irrigated lands in the district. The tribunal verdict will be a huge boost for irrigation,” they added.
“We can proceed to complete project works at brisk pace to provide irrigation water to ayacut lands,” said in-charge superintending engineer (SE) Vamsadhara circle R Nageswara Rao.
ByChowdari Lakshmana Rao
