Tungabhadra high-level canal modernisation in full swing

Bommanahal (Anantapur): Tungabhadra High Level Canal (HLC) modernisation works on the Karnataka side in Hospet are progressing in full swing, thanks to the Tungabhadra Board decision to execute works with an investment of Rs.400 crores.

Tungabhadra Board, an inter-State body that maintains Tungabhadra reservoir at Hospet and two inter-state canal systems under the dam – High Level Canal (HLC) and Low Level Canal (LLC), had taken up modernisation of the canals last year and will complete works in two seasons without affecting water release.

The on-going works include strengthening of embankments and structures, lining and bedding of canals to minimise seepage and breaches would be taken up as part of modernisation works.

On the AP side in Anantapur and Kurnool, the 10-year old HLC modernisation project, which had faced several bottlenecks in its implementation, is now starting afresh with the termination of old contractors and giving way to new contractors to complete the remaining 25 per cent of the HLC main canal works.

The latest government decision to dispense old contractors and to invite new tenders has given a fresh hope for its completion. However, the project is unlikely to be completed by 2019 unless the farmers declare a crop holiday for its completion. The contractors could not complete the modernisation works for eight months in a year due to flow of water in the canal.

HLC Superintending Engineer M Surender Reddy while interacting with ``The Hans India,” said, ``The project is aimed at modernising the canal systems through which the allocated water for AP state to the tune of 32.50 tmc ft was supposed to traverse a 100 km from Karnataka to reach AP border.

The modernisation works became necessary due to decline in water flows from the allocated 32.50 tmc ft to 22 to 26 tmc feet and also due to reduction in reservoir intake capacity from 132 tmc feet to 100 tmc feet at the Tungabhadra dam in Karnataka.

The project was supposed to be completed in 57 months, but the scheduled time has been doubled and is likely to be stretched beyond 2019. The modernisation project involves execution of six packages worth Rs.250 crores.

The major benefit of the modernisation include an increased intake of inflows from 2800 cusecs to 4,200 cusecs. During floods due to canal widening it can contain more water and increases intake by another 4-5 tmc of water apart from bringing down seepage losses by 20 percent.