Polavaram canal bridges, lining works resume

Vijayawada: Polavaram Right Main Canal (PRMC) lining, double-line bridges and its concrete works for erection of gates began in Krishna district.

The works have been launched in Nunna, Pathapadu, Kundavari Kandrika, P Nainavaram, Kothuru Tadepalli and other villages near Vijayawada.

Canal lining works were pending for eight years due to change in the State government. Former Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy started the Polavaram Project for diversion of 80 tmc ft of surplus water from River Godavari to Krishna.

But, due to court cases, canal works were stopped in some areas and now all the canal works have been completed after the current government cleared the payments to those whose land was acquired for construction of canal.

The Water Resources department (WRD) completed canal works in Krishna and West Godavari districts with the help of local MLAs.

But, the lining works of canal bunds, construction of double-lane bridges, erection of gates and other works are still pending. The WRD stopped the supply of Godavari water to canal through Pattiseema Lift Irrigation scheme a month ago.

On the direction of the State government, the contractors have resumed works in order to complete them by June. Canal bund levelling works are underway for construction of lining on the both sides of PRMC.

These works are in a full swing at Nunna, Pathapadu, PNainavaram, Kothuru Tadepalli and other villages.

At the same time, concrete works are also going on at a faster pace for erection of gates where double-lane bridges were to come up. Contractors have been removing the silt in the canal for free flow of water.

One of the contractors said that desilting would be finished by June. They have been using a number of excavators for removal of silt in the canal, he added.

Double-lane bridge works have also been resumed to ease the local traffic of tractors and bullock carts.

Meanwhile, the officials have made temporary arrangement with huge cement pipelines as vents to drain water from one side to other side as water flow continues during the rainy season.

The same structure is being used for movement of vehicles, including lorries and buses. The double-lane bridge works have resumed in all areas on Polavaram canal.

Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham Vijayawada Rural mandal leader G China Venkata Reddy urged the government to complete the canal lining works and construction of bridges as early as possible.

Due to non-completion of lining works, breaches occurred mainly in rainy season which has been creating problems to local people, he said.