Krishna water to be released for Rayalaseema through Pothireddypadu Lift, says YS Jagan

KURNOOL: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has announced that the State Government will release water for Rayalaseema region by lifting Krishna River water from Pothireddypadu Head Regulator (PHR).

To cater to the irrigation and drinking water requirements of Rayalaseema region, the Chief Minister announced his intention to enhance the capacity of PHR to 80,000 cusecs from the existing 44,000 cusecs. A scheme was launched to lift three TMCs of water within 800 feet and release them in Pothireddypadu.

Addressing a public gathering at Dhone in Nandyal district on Tuesday, the Chief Minister said he was aware of the water woes in Rayalaseema region. Keeping this in mind, the State Government decided to build Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Project (RLIP) at a level of 800 feet as the upper riparian State of Telangana built all its lift irrigation projects at a level of 800 feet and was generating hydel power at a level of 790 feet.

YS Jagan alleged that the previous TDP regime had never bothered about the water woes of Rayalaseema region. Earlier, the water reached Pothireddypadu only if the backwater levels reached 880 feet in Srisailam reservoir. “That’s why the State Government has decided to build RLIP at a level of 800 feet,” he said. On the other hand, the TDP also totally neglected the Veligonda project. Because of this, people in Prakasam district were facing severe drought conditions, he added.

The Chief Minister said that works related to two tunnels of Veligonda project up to a length of 12 km; and 8 km were completed during the former Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s rule. However, the TDP ignored it completely and turned the Prakasam district into a drought prone area. Stating that Handrineeva was completed by YSR, he said that the YSRCP Government took up the RLIP, works related to the first tunnel were completed and the second tunnel would be completed in October, he said.

YS Jagan accused the former Chief Minister for his failure to maintain adequate water levels in Gandikota, Chitravati and Brahma Sagar reservoirs in Rayalaseema districts. The YSRCP Government accorded top priority to the reservoirs and widened the canals of Gandikota, Chitravati and Brahma Sagar reservoirs besides filling the water levels with full capacity, he said.

Earlier, YS Jagan also inaugurated the water supply scheme from Handrineeva that would fill 77 tanks using the Lakkasagaram pump house in Krishnagiri mandal. The pump house would provide water for more than 10,000 acres. The Chief Minister said that the Lakkasagaram project was taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 253 crore which would benefit Pattikonda, Dhone, Alluru and Panyam constituencies.