After missing the July 2018 deadline to make the Kaleshwaram irrigation project functional at least partly, first due to the delays induced by cases in courts and green tribunal in getting vital clearances and later due to rains, work agencies and irrigation authorities are working towards the goal of pumping water to Mid Manair reservoir by October-end.
Dasara plan
The plan is to run at least one motor each in the pump houses of Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages and in the sixth and eighth packages from Dasara festival to fill both the Mid Manair and Lower Manair reservoirs having a combined storage capacity of about 50 tmc ft water, senior officials in the Irrigation Department stated.
About 2,400 tmc ft of Godavari water has already gone waste into the sea from Dowlaiswaram barrage in four months from June this year with about half of the quantity contributed from the point of Medigadda.
Rains in the project areas and flow of water in the Godvarai river course, across which the three key barrages are coming up, have hampered the progress of work for about two-and-a-half months now although they were being continued in bits and pieces whenever there was let up in the situation.
Work on the lining of tunnels in package seven and eight has also been affected due to seepage problems following rains even after overcoming the challenges in the excavation of one of the twin tunnels in package number seven.
Rain
Admitting that rains have spoiled their plans of getting the project partly functional by July-end this year, Chief Engineer of Kaleshwaram project N. Venkateshwarlu told The Hindu that some aspects would always be beyond human control.
“We can't blame the nature in our case since it is the monsoon season and rains are very much necessary for other spheres of life.”
Now that there is let up and we plan to intensify work to bring the project into functional shape over the next two-three months,” Venkateshwarlu stated.
Water flow
In spite of let up in rains, the area for only 45 out of a total of 85 vents is under control of executing agencies and carrying out work in the rest of the area is not possible due to the flow of water, the Chief Engineer explained stating that erection of three gates has been taken up already.
Goal
Hectic work is in progress towards the goal of pumping water from Yellampally barrage to Mid Manair reservoir by making at least one pump each functional in the pump houses of packages six and eight by October 15 or a week later if things get delayed due to weather conditions.