Welcome to GODAVARI BASIN

Background Note for Utilisation of Godavari Waters

- K. Sriramakrishnaiah

Andhra Pradesh with a geographical area of 274.40L.Ha, has cultivable area of about 167L.Ha., of which 43 L.Ha. is provided with irrigation. 53% of the irrigated area is in the belt between the Eastern ghats and Bay of Bengal. This is because of the well established long rule of the Eastern Chalukyas, etc., and subsequently the British rule. The 1792 famine wiped out 60% and 1833 famine wiped out 40% of population in the coastal belt. These calamities activated the British to take up irrigation works. Rest of the State suffers from less water and higher elevations. The great famine of 1876 in Deccan when millions perished was the eye opening in taking up few irrigation works in this area.

The lowest elevation of the Godavari, Scope for higher upstream utilisation of the Krishna waters, unpredictable flows in the Pennar due to drought, are the serious drawbacks of the three major rivers of Andhra Pradesh.

Godavari:

Biggest river

Flow limited to four months

Flow at the lowest level

Variation between minimum and maximum is 1:12

Krishna:

Deccan plateau

Flow at higher elevation

Water resources getting exhausted

Variation between minimum and maximum is 1:4

Pennar:

Fully exploited

Erratic flow

Variation between minimum and maximum is 1:30

There are enough water resources in Andhra Pradesh to irrigate the entire cultivable area. But the water is not available at places and elevations desired. Gravity flow in future may be best be possible for another four to five lakh hectares. We have entered the phase of large scale lift irrigation schemes out of necessity. We need not feel shy of lift irrigation schemes. They compare more favourably with gravity schemes, as to the gestation period, capital cost, etc.

Ichampalli Project – Problems

1. It is essentially a hydropower project with only 1.65 lakh acres of irrigation.

2. More than 85 TMC cannot be used for irrigation.

3. Inter-state problems.

4. R &R and forest submersion.

5. F.R.L. +112.50m elevation of land to be irrigated is between +100 and +700 m. Saving in head for pumping with the reservoir is marginal and insignificant.

6. Black Gold – coal belt may suffer.

7. Evaporation is as much as 60 TMC.

8. Problem of heavy silting.

Polavaram Project - Problems

1. Cannot be of much use without either Ichampalli or Bhoopalapatnam projects on the upstream.

2. R & R problems, Coal belt, etc.

3. Dam line requires changes.

4. Flood management is a problem.

5. The Irrigation is limited to 7.0lakh acres (75% this already under some sort of irrigation) and with only seasonal power.

6. 80 TMC transfer to Krishna delta is at the time not much required.

7. Godavari and Krishna deltas get affected (loss of khariff paddy in 4.0 lakh acres).

8. Yeleru canals need to be remodelled (C.D.Works).

9. Rail and Road bridges are to be remodelled.

10. Drawing about 250 TMC during rainy season from Polavaram to Krishna river disturbs the irrigation systems and agriculture.

11. Kolleru lake level raises.

12. Upputeru capacity becomes inadequate.

13. Budameru becomes a river of sorrow.

14. Vijayawada city gets into danger of flooding.

15. Industrial and other developments between V.T.P.S. and Vijayawada may face serious flood problems.

16. Delinking the Krishna delta from Nagarjunasagar and partly attaching it to polavaram results in diminishing the protective rights of Krishna delta.

17. Problem of heavy silting.

The deltas suffer from the drainage generated from the Eastern ghats. Further adding 250 TMC in khariff season is like driving the last nail. Environmentalists are not addressing themselves to these more serious problems and the study is limited to the R & R problems of polavaram reservoir only.

All this effort at a cost of nearly Rs.10,000 crores is for limited unsustainable benefits resulting in permanent injury to delta ayacut and other sectors.

Strategically, to plan to transport nearly 250 TMC at the eastern slopes of the Eastern Ghats is suicidal for the entire rich basin upto the Bay of Bengal, apart from lurking danger to the life lines, the Trunk road, railway line, irrigation tanks and canals. This area suffers from flood problems frequently which will become more intensive.

Having lost nearly 50 years over the mighty projects of Ichampalli and Polavaram (earlier Ramapadasagar) which could not be resolved even now due to :-

(a) heavy investment,

(b) less benefits,

(d) unsurmountable problems relating to environment and ecology,

(e) limited irrigation coverage of only 8 to 9 lakh acres,

(f) inevitably of lift irrigation to serve further needy areas,

(g) consequent increase in regional disparities, and

(h) drought areas not getting any benefit, I have expalined the availability of water, the period, the location and feasibility to take up lift irrigation to begin with, leaving the construction of the reservoir at Ichampalli and Polavaram to the wisdom, talent and effort to the future generations.

The Godavari flows almost close to the northern border. The water is to be transported to higher levels negotiating the rising topography and over long distances.

Lift irrigation is therefore a must and distances to be reached are great. The following strategies are evolved and adopted.

New Techniques (Alternatives)

1. Use of natural water resources to function as canal systems.

2. Low head pumping arrangements.

3. Storage reservoirs submerging only unproductive lands without much rehabilation problems.

4. Swapping of waters from one system to the other.

5. Beneficiaries participation and management from investigation to execution and operation.

The study revealed that about 600 TMC can be pumped without any head works across the Godavari. Utilising streams as carriers of pumped water and swapping of water from one system to the other has resulted in considerable economy, least disturbance to the environment and need less maintenance.

The scheme to irrigate 58 lakh acres, providing 40 TMC for drinking and industries, 10 TMC to Hyderabad and 40 TMC to Rayalaseema is made out after detailed study of levels and topography.

The cost per acre is as low as Rs.11,000 to 12,000. The total power required during 4 to 5 months of rainy season is about 3000 MW, which can be managed over a period of 15 to 20 years. All clearances can easily be obtained since no inter-state problems are involved and only limited problems relating to environment are involved.

Water supply to the Hyderabad city can be had at 30 to 50% of the cost of bringing water from the Nagarjunasagar.

New financial instruments need to be developed. The scheme can be financed by the beneficiaries, if only the required atmosphere is created by suitable steps like enactments of the required acts, etc. The government can act as friend, philosopher and guide, generously lending financial. Administrative and technical support when needed at the right time.

-.Sriramakrishnaiah K Dr., 2004, pp116-117, 2nd Irrigation Day Celebrations, 3rd March 2004, Background note for utilization of Godavari waters, Vision of Dr. K.Sriramakrishnaiah ,BE,FIE on Water resources and Utilisation in Andhra Pradesh.

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The Godavari is the biggest river in Andhra Pradesh. It is also the lowest running river. Its flood flow is limited to four to five months of south-west monsoon period. Only nominal flows are available in other months.

Godavari flood flows transport considerable volume of silt. Any reservoir across Godavari looses considerable capacity very fast. The Godavari is flanked by dense Dandakaraya forest. Any reservoir across Godavari involves submersion of valuable forest areas. Alongwith it the tribals, who live in these forests have to be rehabilitated. Mineral wealth, specially coal, a valuable energy fuel, may also be lost due to submersion under any reservoir. The submersion extends to the neighbouring states, and this problem cannot be solved easily.

The main river has two notable works one at the entry into Andhra Pradesh-Sriramsagar, and the other at the head of the delta formation- Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage, near Dowlaiswaram. In between Inchampalli reservoir and Polavaram project are proposed. These projects have kindled the hopes and aspirations of the people in the Godavari basin and outside.

The rapid siltation of Sriramsagar, the biggest major irrigation project in the Telangana, is causing worry.

There is a plenty of scope to construct small reservoirs within the command which will improve the storage position. Due to these reservoirs, the capacity of pumps to be installed gets reduced and the benefit of the post-monsoon crop, which is most desirable, can be had.

- Dr. K.Sriramakrishnaiah, 2004, pp122-126, 2nd Irrigation Day Celebrations, 3rd March 2004, Background note for utilization of Godavari waters, Vision of Dr. K.Sriramakrishnaiah,BE,FIE on Water resources and Utilisation in Andhra Pradesh.