Godavari-Penna River Linking : CM to lay stone for first phase works today

Amaravati: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will lay the foundation stone for the first phase works of the Godavari-Penna river linking programme at Nakarikallu village in Guntur district on Monday to fight drought in the Rayalaseema region.

The Penna river flows through Anantapur, Kadapa, Kurnool, Chittoor and Nellore districts. But the meagre water that flows in the river cannot cater to the needs of these districts.

Meanwhile, the major share of Godavari water is flowing into the sea. If the Penna and Godavari rivers are linked, entire Rayalaseema will benefit. The Chief Minister will commence works to link Godavari and Penna in five phases at an estimated cost of Rs 83,796 crore.

He will lay the foundation stone for the first phase works costing Rs 6,020.15 crore at Nakarikallu. In the first phase of works, 8500 cusecs of water from Pattiseema and 6870 cusecs of water from Chintalapudi lift will be taken to the Prakasam barrage.

From Prakasam barrage, 7000 cusecs of water will be taken to Nagarjuna Sagar right main canal in five phases by laying 10.25 km pipeline from Krishna river and gravity canal at a stretch of 56.35 km and using five lifts.

The fist lift will be set up at Harischandrapuram, second at Lingapuram, third lift at Vyyandana, fourth lift at Gangireddypalem and the fifth one at Nakarikallu.