Srikakulam: Vamsadhara reservoir works move at sluggish pace

Srikakulam: The present YSRCP government seems to be following the previous TDP government in neglecting the works pertaining to Vamsadhara reservoir at Hiramandalam. The focus so far has been on high-level canal.

The high-level canal is meant for linking of Vamsadhara and Nagavali rivers by carrying surplus water from Vamsadhara reservoir to upper side of the Narayanapuram anicut in Nagavali river.

Without completing Vamsadhara reservoir carrying of water is not possible. But governments started the high-level canal works in a hasty manner. Vamsadhara reservoir is aimed at providing irrigation facility to 2,51,510 acres in the district during kharif and rabi seasons.

Total 17 lakh cubic metres earth work and 44,000 cubic metres concrete work are still pending for the Vamsadhara reservoir.

Without the completion of these works, full water level storage of 19.5 tmcft is not possible in the reservoir.

"Without completing reservoir works how the water can be carried to Nagavali river through high level canal," farmers of several mandals questioned officials on several occasions. But the officials evaded reply.

The total length of the high-level canal is 33.583 km and the estimated cost of the project is Rs 145.35 crore and additional ayacut covered under thes canal is 5,000 acres.

"Vamsadhara reservoir ayacut is 2,51,510 acres. But the successive governments neglected the reservoir and concentrate on high level canal," AP Rythu Sangham division president B Appala Naidu lamented.

However, the officials say that works of both the high-level canal and Vamsadhara project will be speeded up.

"We are implementing government's orders regarding high-level canal and we will also complete Vamsadhara reservoir," superintendent engineer of Vamsadhara river project Dola Tirumala Rao said.