Polavaram Project: Possible Solutions – T. Hanumantha Rao

1) Need for reservoirs:  The utilizable surface water resources in India are 690 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM). Live storage in Reservoirs and tanks, so far constructed, and under construction, works out to 252 BCM. It is therefore necessary to build many more reservoirs to utilize the water presently going to the sea. We have an option not to utilize the flow, but then according to LJ.N. Norms India would come under the classification "Severely scarce water region" (Less then 1000 Cubic Meters Per Head Per Year). Even when we utilize fully all these water resources, it is estimated that it would work out to 1140 cubic meters by 2050, which comes under classification "scarce". According to these norms, the position is satisfactory only when the figure exceeds 1700. It is therefore necessary to construct reservoirs like Polavaram.

2) Alternatives to big reservoirs:   Many environmentalists suggest that small tanks, water harvesting structures and watersheds, as substitutes to major reservoirs. When the hydrology of a river basin like godavari is studied, it is seen that about 50% of flow in the river occurs due to rainfall run off coming from mountainous and forest regions. These alternatives are not relevant to such a topography. In the plains and rainfed agricultural areas, these alternatives are already implemented to a larger extent and a big programme is already launched to complete the same. In the case of big reservoirs, the riverene ecology up to the sea can be maintained by allowing regulated flows downstream, during non rainy and summer seasons.

3) Adverse impacts of Polavaram Project :   The main adverse impacts are submersion of forest areas, villages and rehabilitation of displaced persons . This happens to be common for all major reservoirs in the world. Solutions are possible if innovative methods are adopted.

4) Possible solutions:   Alternate forest will have to be developed in lieu of about 4000 ha of forest coming under submersion, by following the existing norms. Compensation for property will have to be paid liberally following the Narmada Project norms. In the case of rehabilitation, fresh liberal norms will have to be introduced similar to the 3 gorges Dam in China, and also following the recommendations of the World Water Forum (WWF) protocol held in March 2003 at Kyoto, Japan. These recommendations envisage the displaced persons as the first beneficiaries of the project. This means that they will have to get more benefits than the command area farmers to whom the project was originally intended. In order to achieve this, I suggest a package of activities. Importantly, they relate to training in trades chosen by them (retraining whenever needed) creating livelihoods, providing marketing facilities in addition to free health and education upto a professional career for promising persons. Their economic growth every year, will have to be monitored and collective steps taken till they achieve the desired growth. These activities will have to be therefore continued even after the project work is completed. When these aspects are made known to the 1 Lakh displaced persons and a pilot project implemented, even before starting the main construction, there will be a good response from the evacuees. According to the WWF, the displaced persons should eventually request for the project and not the conventional ayacutdars, (as experienced during the past several decades). Wherever such a procedure was adopted in the 3 Gorges dam, the displaced persons exhibited enthusiasm for the project since the economy for them as well as their children would be several times better than earlier.

5) Navigation :   I do not want to comment on the engineering aspects of dam, canals, hydroelectric etc in this forum consisting mainly non engineers. However I would like to stress the aspect of inland water navigation through godavari river. WWF has recommended in 2003, that all future water resource projects in the world should have inland water navigation as a component. I have technical proposals for facilitating flat bottom sea going vessels to ply along the godavari river from Pochampad Dam to the sea through out the year. This is possible by creating a draft of 2 m through construction of 4 barrages and 3 reservoirs, all along the river, out of which Polavaram is one. These structures would provide in addition, irrigation, hydropower, drinking water and water for industries coming up all along the river. The navigation sector apart from providing cheap transport, in an ecofriendly manner, would give employment and livelihood opportunities for the landless rural population through out the year. The design of Polavaram dam will have to be modified to suite navigation.

6) Alternatives :   In the case of Pulichintala project it is possible to have alternatives to store 35 TMC live storage at 5 barrages without submerging any village or forest area. Since Polavaram is several times bigger project, it is not possible to store in a similar manner. However, this project can be constructed in such a manner that the displaced persons get the maximum benefit out of the project. It is not advisable to reduce the capacity of Polavaram reservoir, since this happens to be the tail end reservoir for the river.

T.Hanumantha Rao,

Engineer-in-Chief (Retd.), Consultant-UN

- A note circulated on 05-12-2004 in a meeting held in Press Club, Hyderabad.