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Polavaram Project-Alternate Proposals
m.dharma rao
Chief Engineer (Retd), Govt. of A.P.
National Ideal
Our country has adapted the creation of socialistic pattern of society in which any developmental work should equitably distribute the benefits to all the sections of the Society. The emphasis is to elevate the poor people above poverty line.
The Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi has advised us "that any activity undertaken by the Govt. should be based on truth, nonviolence and should not create grief in any section of the society but wipe out every tear Shed by the deprived people".
Socialism as conceived by Karl Marx is the "The Liberation of wage earning classes and the establishment of freedom and justice".
The great philosopher Bertrand Russell stated that "Any political ideals must be based upon ideals for the individual life. The aim of politics should be to make the lives of individuals as good as possible. Political and social institutions are to be judged by the good or harm that they do to individuals".
National Policy
All the above ideals which we proclaim to be following give first priority for the development of the individual and the society interests are secondary. Therefore for taking up any developmental activity the main focus should be the individual development and there should not be any state induced impoverishment on account of compulsory displacement and acquisition of lands for construction of Irrigation projects.
To avoid this contingency the National Water Policy has clearly indicated that Alternative schemes should be investigated and innovative ideas should be followed in planning and design of Irrigation projects instead of following age old models. Every proposal should be relevant in the context of growing population, settlements and needs of the deprived people, who, we call as tribals and there should not be any degradation of the environment and ecology. The project benefits should ensure overall development and should not sacrifice the quality of life of tribals for the development of already well placed sections of the society.
Back ground
Polavaram Project which is now proposed to be implemented was conceived nearly fifty years back and its design is out-dated and causes damage to the ecology, environment and brings misery to about 2 lakh people mainly consisting of tribals by displacement and submerging about 300 villages.
The main drawbacks of the present proposals are:-
1. Submergence of about 1.00 Lack acres of cultivable land.
2. Submergence of 300 villages which are mainly tribal villages.
3. Displacement of about 2.00 Lakh people mainly tribals who are unwilling to move out and as per law they have to accept the displacement.
4. Submergence of forest lands
5. Submergence of lands in neighbouring states
6. Interstate disputes and serious legal objections to the project from other states.
7. Polavaram project, as the present design is having serious problems, as mentioned above but they are either being overlooked due to lack of proper understanding or due to political compulsions.
The project proposals and design was suitable to those times. But over the years many changes have taken place in the society. The proposed displacement of such huge population and settlements is likely to cause degradation in their lives. This is more or less state induced impoverishment of the people, whereas the state should be the chief custodian of the welfare of all sections of the society. They will be forced to become migrant laborers and urban slum dwellers. This is against the spirit of teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, Karl Marx and Bertrand Russell.
The situation thus created is alienating the tribal people from the main stream society and leading to many social and political conflicts. The people of the area are divided into two violent groups, one for implementation of the project as it provides irrigation and power supply for their development and the other affected people for cancellation of the project who feel that they will be deprived of mother earth, their culture and peaceful way of life and will be forced into inhuman conditions.
The situation is so volatile that many political parties-extremist groups and intellectuals have aligned with diametrically opposing sections of the society. Recently Honorable courts have also issued stay orders for stopping the construction of the project as proposed by the Government. Latest Political activities and agitations for and against the project show how the society is divided on the issue of the present proposals of Polavaram Project. Extremist groups have also entered into the fray and threatening to stall the project.
Legal sanctions and need for alternate proposal:
The governments of India have passed several acts and laws for protection of ecology, environment, forests, tribals and down trodden people. The law specifically mentions that it is mandatory for study of alternative proposals and to adopt such proposal and design of the project which will minimize the adverse impacts on the society, ecology and environment.
Prof Jayati Ghosh, chairperson of the commission for welfare of farmers-has also recommended (please see chapter 5 item 4) that to avoid large scale displacement of people by major projects it is advisable to take up number of small projects to achieve the objectives. This recommendation has been accepted by the state of A.P.
Study Made:
To resolve the situation and to avoid conflicts in the society, our association has consulted many experts to find out an alternative proposal for the Polavaram project which will protect the interests of all people concerned. This is to say that the envisaged benefits should be achieved keeping at a minimum the displacement of people.
After careful study our society has evolved such an Innovative proposal (alternate) which is very simple and can be implemented with present expertise and technology available. The proposal resolves the conflicts amicably as it will not cause displacement of lakhs of people and submergence of 300 villages but at the same time provides more benefits to larger area than envisaged in the present proposal of Polavaram project, as the canals run at higher level and supplies the required water by gravity.
Details of alternate proposal:
The present proposal of polavaram project envisages utilization of about 300 Tmc with canals on the two flanks, approximately 115 Tmc under left flank and 105 TMC under right flank canal and 80 Tmc diversion to Krishna barrage. The required water is proposed to be stored and diverted by constructing a huge dam across Godavari at Polavaram.
The alternate proposal envisages a comprehensive utilization of the existing projects and which are in the active consideration of the government in the Godavari valley. In this proposal it is not required to construct the polavaram reservoir as now proposed.
Brief description of the proposal is given below:
1. System for the Left flank requirements
In the Godavari basin Sabari river including main tributary Sileru river contributes about 200 Tmc to main Godavari river. This water is available at higher level and above the F.R.L. of the proposed Polavaram Project and can be harnessed at higher level as described below.
(a) Sileru river has got many existing hydro electric schemes which contribute regulated flow of about 4,000 cusecs for atleast 9 months in a year. This regulated flow can be harnessed at a level of about 300 ft by constructing a barrage across the river and diverting the flow into the sokleru river valley.
(b) Construction of a reservoir across Sokleru river to store water diverted from Sileru river
(c) A barrage can be constructed across Sabari river at a level abot +150' and at least 25% of its flow can be diverted into the canal taking off from sokleru reservoir.
(d) The canal taking of from the Sokleru reservoir can be aligned at suitable level and can be dropped into a reservoir across Pam'uleru river.
(e) Reservoirs also can be constructed across Pamuleru River and other hilly tributaries in this region to tap the waters of these hilly streams which contribute considerable amount of water.
All those proposals can be formulated with a comprehensive design as required altitude available for location of the barrages-reservoirs and canals. The canals and reservoirs proposed are upsteam of Polavaram dam and at higher elevation and as such can supply water to the left flank requirements.
The total water thus available as a conservative estimate will be
(1) Even if we propose to tap waters of regulated flow released from the hydro electric schemes on Sileru river in only six monsoon months the availability will be about 65 Tmc from Sileru basin.
(2) As per the norms which are being followed a diversion scheme across Sabari river where the monsoon rainfall is more than 45 inches can divert 25% of the 75% dependable yield. The 75% dependable yield of sabari river alone excluding sileru river is about 120 Tmc and as such we can divert 30 Tmc.
(3) Sokleru, Pamuleru and other 4 or 5 minor valleys contribute about 20 Tmc. All these put together will be (65+30+20) 115 Tmc. The regulated flow from Sileru, balancing reservoirs on the Sokleru, Pamuleru and other tributaries and barrage across Sabari river will provide assured water supply to the left flank requirements as envisaged under the present polavaram project.
Advantages of this system are:
(1) Existing reservoirs on sileru river can be improved to hold extra water, thereby increasing the hydro electric and irrigation potential.
(2) The proposed reservoirs across Sokleru, Pamuleru and other streams will act as balancing reservoirs and will off set excess of low flows in the different valleys. These reservoirs and the Canal running at higher contour will increase ground water table in the area and will solve drinking water problems of not only Vishakhapatnam but poor people in the forest. At present there is severe water scarcity in the valley in the summer season and wild life is also suffering.
(3) The rise in water table will contribute to forest growth and many forest species will thrive contributing to health of the people in the valley.
(4) At present there are no proper communication facilities. The canal can be designed to have a road on the bank which will be not only useful for inspection but for communication and will act as bank for flood control.
(5) All the villages and towns in the toes of eastern ghat can be supplied water from this canal as it is at higher level than the polavaram canal.
(6) Considerable saving can be effected in the power requirement as there will be no need to lift water from lower level to cover more ayacut and villages as in the now proposed project.
(7) The small reservoirs, barrages and communication net work along the canal will save many heritage sites and temples, Papikondalu and will be an eco tourest destination.
(8) Hydro electricity can be produced at the toe of the proposed balancing reservoirs on Sokleru and Pamuleru.
II) System for the Right flank requirements
There is an existing anicut across Godavari at Dummugudem, which is proposed to be improved to store water up to +165 ft level. This anicut is at up stream location and at higher elevation than Polavaram project.
At Dummugudem anicut sufficient perennial flow of more than 35,000 Cusecs is available and at 75% dependability about 600 Tmc of water is available and as such there is no dearth of water at this point.
It is important to note that assured water can be supplied from Dummugudem anicut as there are proposals of construction of Ichampally Hydro Electric Project, Singareddygudem Hydro Electric Project up stream of Dummugudem anicut and modernization of Dummugudem anicut. These three systems as they are also Hydro Electric Schemes will enable the assured water at Dummudugem anicut for diversion to the right flank of Godavari River from higher elevation than Polavaram Project. Even in Polavaram Project design Inchampalli Project plays vital role for supply of regulated flow. Further to Inchampalli Project singareddiGudem and modernization of Dummugudem schemes are added.
Therefore there will not be any dearth of water supply at Dummugudem anicut for diversion to serve the right flank requirements of Polavarm Project and diversion of water into Krishna vally and Prakasam prakasm barrage.
This system can be utilized and canal can be proposed from the right flank of Dummugudem and aligned to run parallel to Godavari River upto Kinnersani River and after crossing this river encountrers Godavari-Krishna ridge. A tunnel will have to be provided to cross this ridge and after this the canal can be designed to supply water on the right flank of Godavari.
Advantages of this system are:
(1) The envisaged benefits under Polavaram Right Canal can be easily achieved by the canal taking off from Dummuguda Anicut as it will be at higher level than the present Polavaram Right Canal.
(2) Many areas in Krishna valley particularly tail end of Nagarjuna sagar canal can also be served.
(3) As the canal enter into Krishna valley after crossing the ridge 80 Tmc of water can also be supplied to Krishna valley and ultimately into Krishna barrage.
(4) The canal will be a garland canal running down stream of the reservoirs already constructed across many streams joining Godavari in the right flank. At least 30 Tmc of water can be harnessed at higher level by improving the existing systems on the tributaries.
(5) This canal will supply water by gravity to large areas in Khammam, West Godavari and Krishna districts.
(6) As the canal runs parallel to Godavari River it can also be designed to act as flood bank and to carry a road for inspecti'on and communication purpose.
At this juncture it is to be pointed out that the proposed tunnel to cross the Godavari 85 Krishna ridge can be easily constructed as many varieties of tunnel boring machines are available in the market. As the tunnel boring technology is easily available the Government of Andhra Pradesh is also proposing to construct tunnels for SLBC and for other canals. Therefore it is not difficult for Government of Andhra Pradesh to take up this tunnel.
The feasibility of this diversion scheme from Dummugudem anicut has been studied by Khosla, Gulhati Commissions earlier and . recently by the Government of Andhra Pradesh
in connection with the proposals of diverting Godavari waters into Krishna valley. Therefore the technical feasibility has already been established.
The proposed canals in the left and right flank will have dead length for certain stretch but cost of these canals including barrages, balancing reservoirs and tunnels will be far less than the construction cost of Polavaram reservoir and cost of rehabilitation of villages and people. As the proposals avoids huge submergence of lands, forest and displacement of 300 villages and two lakhs of people, it will be acceptable to the people.
There will be no opposing section in the society for the alternate proposals as it may involve submergence of only 4 or 5 villages, that is to say the entire displacement of tribal people and submergence of 300 villages is avoided and all the envisaged benefits can be achieved without creating any animosity in the society and all sections will welcome the proposals.
Further one more important aspect is that there is no submergence in the neighbouring States and there are no interstate problems.
The alternate proposals envisages construction of barrages and number of small balancing reservoirs across many streams joining Godavari and will be storing water throughout the year. Therefore it contributes to the improvement of ground water in the entire delta systems and will be stabilizing the ayacut of Godavari and Krishna deltas.
conclusion:
1. In the new proposals there are no opposing sections of people and all are only beneficiaries and as such the scheme will be acceptable to all and can be easily implemented.
2. The entire proposed system is in Andhra Pradesh territory and as such required decisions can be taken at the State Government level.
3 .This involves know n technology for boring the tunnels.
4 .The proposal consists of small barrages and reservoirs and as such the system can be constructed within five years and the benefits can be achieved in a short period.
5. This scheme protects the environment and the tribals.
6. Last and most important feature of this scheme is that it saves about 1.5 lakhs acres cultivable land, 300 villages, public utilities already developed by the Government and National heritage sites, temples, Papi Kondalu from permanent submergence.
7. We will be not only saving National assets but preserve our ecosystem, heritage and culture.
- Dharma Rao M., 2005, Polavaram project – alternate proposals, December 2005, Organisation for the Protection of Democratic Rights (O.P.D.R.), A.P. |
