Amaravati: In a significant development, Godavari river water was released to the Delta region from Polavaram project spillway on Friday.
With the construction of upper coffer dam completed, the irrigation authorities diverted the Godavari water to the delta via approach channel. This is the first time water was released from the spillway of Polavaram project after work on the project was commenced almost 15 years ago.
Ministers Anil Kumar Yadav, Alla Kalikrishna Srinivas (Nani) attended the water release ceremony in virtual mode from Vijayawada while Polavaram legislator Tellam Balaraju and senior officials of the irrigation department offered prayers at the project site before the release of water.
The diversion of water from approach channel would facilitate the construction of Earth-Cum-Rock-Fill (ECRF) dam which is crucial component of the project, without holding the water releases to the Delta region. The project contractor firm, Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (Meil), completed the construction of upper-stream coffer dam on war footing to release water to the delta as per the schedule fixed by the state government. MEIL also completed the construction of approach channel for diversion of water from spillway.
The water was diverted from the natural course after completion of the approach channel, spill channel and pilot channel for about 6.6km. The contractor has already completed the construction of spillway and fixation of massive radial gates and river sluice gates to enable the free flow of water to the downstream Delta region.
The water released from the project would reach Cotton Barrage in Dowleswaram and from there it would be pumped to the Godavari eastern canal and Godavari western canal.
Engineer-in-chief C Narayana Reddy, Polavaram project chief engineer Sudhakar Babu, superintending engineer K Narasimha Murthy, Meil vice-president Rangarajan performed puja before releasing the water at the project site.
Narayana Reddy said that they have removed the temporary bund at the beginning of the approach channel to divert the water. “Diversion of Godavari river for 6.6 km is an engineering marvel and rare achievement,” said Meil vice-president Rangarajan.
He said that the flow will continue even after completion of the project. “Gap 1, 2, 3 are constructed in the middle of the river. In this Earth-cum-Rock-fill Dam, which is known as Gap–2 is the largest. The state government decided to build the Upper Coffer dam to hold water flow and continue the construction of the Earth Come Rock Fill Dam in the view of the anticipated floods to Godavari,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Srisailam project in the Krishna river basin has started receiving water following heavy rains in the upstream states of the Krishna river. About 18,000 cusecs from Jurala project and 3000 cusecs from Sunkesula project were being released to the downstream Srisaialm project. The early receipt of waters to Srisailam project has raised the hopes of the farmers getting water from projects based on the Krishna river on getting waters in time for the coming kharif season.
With the construction of upper coffer dam completed, the irrigation authorities diverted the Godavari water to the delta via approach channel. This is the first time water was released from the spillway of Polavaram project after work on the project was commenced almost 15 years ago.
Ministers Anil Kumar Yadav, Alla Kalikrishna Srinivas (Nani) attended the water release ceremony in virtual mode from Vijayawada while Polavaram legislator Tellam Balaraju and senior officials of the irrigation department offered prayers at the project site before the release of water.
The diversion of water from approach channel would facilitate the construction of Earth-Cum-Rock-Fill (ECRF) dam which is crucial component of the project, without holding the water releases to the Delta region. The project contractor firm, Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (Meil), completed the construction of upper-stream coffer dam on war footing to release water to the delta as per the schedule fixed by the state government. MEIL also completed the construction of approach channel for diversion of water from spillway.
The water was diverted from the natural course after completion of the approach channel, spill channel and pilot channel for about 6.6km. The contractor has already completed the construction of spillway and fixation of massive radial gates and river sluice gates to enable the free flow of water to the downstream Delta region.
The water released from the project would reach Cotton Barrage in Dowleswaram and from there it would be pumped to the Godavari eastern canal and Godavari western canal.
Engineer-in-chief C Narayana Reddy, Polavaram project chief engineer Sudhakar Babu, superintending engineer K Narasimha Murthy, Meil vice-president Rangarajan performed puja before releasing the water at the project site.
Narayana Reddy said that they have removed the temporary bund at the beginning of the approach channel to divert the water. “Diversion of Godavari river for 6.6 km is an engineering marvel and rare achievement,” said Meil vice-president Rangarajan.
He said that the flow will continue even after completion of the project. “Gap 1, 2, 3 are constructed in the middle of the river. In this Earth-cum-Rock-fill Dam, which is known as Gap–2 is the largest. The state government decided to build the Upper Coffer dam to hold water flow and continue the construction of the Earth Come Rock Fill Dam in the view of the anticipated floods to Godavari,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Srisailam project in the Krishna river basin has started receiving water following heavy rains in the upstream states of the Krishna river. About 18,000 cusecs from Jurala project and 3000 cusecs from Sunkesula project were being released to the downstream Srisaialm project. The early receipt of waters to Srisailam project has raised the hopes of the farmers getting water from projects based on the Krishna river on getting waters in time for the coming kharif season.
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