Picchukalanka (Andhra Pradesh), Jul 13 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday said that 117 new gates are being fixed at over Rs 150 crore for the Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage in Dowleswaram for its protection.
Addressing a public meeting here in Dr B R Ambedkar Konaseema district, the chief minister observed that the barrage gates are being modernised.
“We are modernising Dowleswaram Barrage (Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage) gates, a project which is crucial for the Godavari Delta. We are fixing 117 new gates with Rs 152 crore to protect the barrage,” Naidu said, adding that the gates will be installed in nine months.
After a British irrigation engineer, Sir Arthur Cotton, had built the Dowleswaram Barrage, Naidu said another barrage had to be built, which was started by former CM NT Rama Rao.
Noting that the new barrage enabled the storage of 2.9 TMC water, he said it could also withstand a flood of 32.2 lakh cusecs water, including irrigating 10.1 lakh acres in eastern, central and western deltas.
Further, the CM promised to complete the Polavaram Project before the Godavari Pushkaralu, a Kumbh Mela-like pilgrimage, in 2027.
Once the Polavaram Project is completed, he said there will not be any water scarcity in the Godavari districts. According to the CM, Godavari river water was routed to the Krishna Delta through the Pattiseema Project.
Pattiseema Project has changed the face of the Rayalaseema region, and micro-irrigation has also developed, along with the development of horticulture, among other benefits.
Naidu said that his government is rebuilding the state, underlining that he, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and actor-politician Pawan Kalyan were “living up to the promises made”.
He also said that they are leading the state from “destruction to development” and offering “welfare schemes unlike any other time in history.” He promised to disburse funds of ‘Talliki Vandanam’, a welfare scheme that offers Rs 15,000 per school-going child a year, in July.
Further, Naidu alleged that the erstwhile YSRCP government had destroyed the Polavaram Project’s diaphragm wall and claimed that the project was completed up to 72 per cent between 2014 and 2019 during the erstwhile TDP government.
Had the TDP government continued after 2019, Naidu claimed, the Polavaram Project could have been completed by 2021, and added that the project is now complete up to 89 per cent, following the formation of the TDP-led NDA government in 2024.
In the past two years, the CM said Rs 24,000 crore was spent on irrigation, and 36 new gates were installed at Tungabhadra Dam.
Further, Naidu said the government will organise the Godavari Pushkaralu in the best way and promised to build the pushkar ghats fully.
He said Rs 1,200 crore will be spent in Rajahmundry alone for the mega pilgrimage. Naidu promised to set up a cocoa city in the Godavari region.
Reflecting on El Nino, he said 25 per cent lower rainfall was recorded, and inflows in rivers were dwindling, calling on farmers to “understand the weather patterns” and then sow their crops.
The CM promised to develop tourism in Picchukulanka and Bojjarlalanka and also take up Godavari delta modernisation, along with Konaseema railway line connectivity.
Later, the CM inspected the Polavaram Project, undertaking an aerial survey of the mega irrigation project.
From the project site, he reviewed progress of 36 irrigation projects being implemented across the state, including enquiring about Veligonda Project works, Polavaram Left Canal projects.
“In three years, the government has decided to spend Rs 35,313 crore on irrigation projects,” said an official press release, adding that 1,023 irrigation projects will also be revived.
With an expenditure of Rs 3,882 crore, there is scope to irrigate 8.42 lakh acres, it said.
Further, the CM directed officials to take up command area development modernisation works and water management project works in Parvatipuram Manyam and Vizianagaram districts.
Meanwhile, officials informed the CM that works were taken up by the Jaladhara project through 11,133 ponds and feeder channels to increase the groundwater level, while Naidu directed them to execute these works through VB G Ram G scheme.
Naidu issued orders to release Rs 2 crore per acre under the Jaladhara scheme to each district.
Addressing a press conference from the project site, Naidu said Polavaram Project Authority (PPA) and international experts are working well on the Polavaram Project, with excellent cooperation from the Central Water Commission.
“Until now 89 percent works are completed in all aspects. While two percent works were completed between 2019 and 2024, 15 percent works were completed in these two years. Rs 7,100 crore were disbursed for completed works,” said the CM.
“on August 14, we planned to release water,” said Naidu, announcing that he will welcome Godavari river waters through Jalaharathi at Anakapalli.
Once the Polavaram project is completed, it will provide irrigation facility to 7.2 lakh acres of additional ayacut, stabilisation of 23.5 lakh acres of ayacut, drinking water facility to 28.5 lakh people and supply 23.46 TMC water for industrial use, said Naidu.
He said the project will help for 960 mw of power generation and he advised the officials to study the possibility of a hybrid power generation project to generate power through pumped storage. PTI STH ADB
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