The Andhra Pradesh state government on Tuesday released the Godavari river water from the Dowleswaram Dam to the eastern, central and western Godavari deltas to provide 10,000 Cusec water for the Kharif operations in the eastern and western Godavari districts.
The Godavari water, released on June 11 from the overflow channel of the Polavaram Irrigation Project, has been stored in the Dowleswaram Dam, from where it is channeled across the Godavari Delta as needed.
On Tuesday, MP from Rajamahendravaram, Margani Bharat, and the chief engineer of the Godavari Delta System, N. Pulla Rao, performed a puja and poured 1,000 cusecs of water into the eastern delta.
Speaking to journalists at the barrage, said Mr. Pulla Rao; “The entire Godavari Delta, which extends into the eastern and western Godavari districts, needs 10,000 Cusec water for the Kharif season. This year there is an opportunity to draw up to 20,000 Cusec water from the Polavaram project for the Kharif season. “
The western delta alone will receive 1500 Cusec water from the Dowleswaram dam to stimulate the Kharif operations.
Mr. Pulla Rao said, “So far, the Sileru Irrigation Project has been pressured to cover the water for the Rabi season in the Godavari Delta. However, there is no need to rely on the availability of water in the Polavaram Irrigation Project from the next Rabi season onwards.
Mr Bharat said that the state government had succeeded in completing the work on the cofferdam in order to be able to release the Godavari water from the Spillway Canal in time.
“The state government is determined to complete the relocation and rehabilitation exercises on a war basis,” said Bharat, recalling the role of YSRajasekhara Reddy in convincing the center to realize the dream of the Polavaram project.
Godavari Delta System Superintendent Engineer K. Ramakrishna, Dowleswaram Barrage Head Works Executive Engineer G. Srinivasa Rao, and other officials attended.