Handri-Neeva, Galeru-Nagari Projects in Rayalaseema May Go Without Water
By S Viswanath - TIRUPATI
Published: 09th December 2013 12:07 PM
Last Updated: 09th December 2013 12:07 PM
A file photo of the Telugu Ganga main canal | EXPRESS PHOTO
Are the much-touted irrigation projects like the Handri-Neeva Sujala Srvanthi (HNSS) and Galeru-Nagari Srujala Sravanthi (GNSS), at various stages of getting finished soon, going to remain mere monuments for the future generations? Yes, say irrigation experts who see the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal verdict as a rude shock to the farming community.
At a time when farmers of drought-prone Rayalaseema districts and Nellore district are dreaming of getting the required irrigation waters from the much-awaited HNSS irrigation project, which completed its first phase of works and set to complete its second phase within a year, and through the reservoirs based on the Telugu Ganga project, the recent verdict of the Tribunal poured water on their dreams.
The Tribunal award dampened the hopes of the farmers taking up cultivation on the Krishna river in general and the budding hopes of the Rayalaseema districts in particular.
As both the irrigation projects--HNSS and GNSS--are being constructed for making use of the surplus waters from the Krishna river, the Tribunal’s award, which stripped the State of its right on the surplus waters, came as a curse on the very future of the projects. “No doubt, the verdict is an adverse one to the State in general and to Rayalaseema region in particular, as all the irrigation projects in the backward region will suffer a lot once the Tribunal award comes into effect,” said former adviser to the government on irrigation, M Sreerami Reddy.
According to him, the State government took up the HNSS and GNSS projects depending on the utilisation of the flood waters, expected to be available in the Srisailam dam during the flood season for 45 days.
While the GNSS is designed to draw 38 TMC water to irrigate 3.25 lakh acre land in Kadapa, Chittoor and Nellore districts, the HNSS is designed to irrigate 6.10 lakh acre land in Anantapur, Kurnool, Kadapa and Chittoor districts by drawing 40 TMC of water.
However, with the Tribunal distributing all the 448 tmc of surplus water (which is being used by the Andhra Pradesh alone all these years) to all the three Krishna riparian States of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh at a ratio of 81, 177 and 190 TMCs respectively and those two States are now free to construct the required projects for stocking the excess water allocated.
Under such circumstances, where the upstream States are allowed to stock all their water share allocated by the Tribunal, one can not except that Andhra Pradesh gets its allocated water leave alone getting surplus waters and releasing the same for the HNSS and GNSS, he explained.
Describing the verdict, which approved the Karnataka government to go ahead with increasing the height of Alamatti dam apart from sharing the surplus water, as unfortunate one, he expected that the Supreme Court might ensure justice to the State.
While stating that there are no instances of the courts questioning the verdicts delivered by Tribunals so far, he, however, was quick to add that the chances of the State getting justice exist as the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal violated the the award granted by its previous Tribunal on the issue as the courts will not allow the Tribunals to bypass the guidelines framed by its predecessors. By, raising arguments on such issues, the State government could get respite from the Apex Court, he explained.
Stating that the situation of TGP is some how better than the HNSS and GNSS as the Tribunal allocated 29 TMC of water to it as the project is operational, he, however, said that getting the allocated water also will become a tough task in the coming days once the Tribunal comes into effect.
Apart from Rayalaseema projects, the reservoirs like Somasila and Kandaleru in Nellore district, constructed for stocking the water of the Pennar river will also bear the brunt of the Tribunal award in the future.
“Though, Somasila and Kandaleru dams are seen as projects on the Pennar river, we all know about the flow of water in the Pennar and Somasila is getting surplus water of the Krishna through TGP. Thus, we can expect the fate of such reservoirs with the implementation of the Tribunal award as TGP is limited to take its allocated share of water meant for the drinking water needs of Chennai city,” said Ch Chandrasekhar Reddy, an expert on irrigation water situation.
Handri-Neeva
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Handri Neeva | |
|---|---|
| Official name | Handri Neeva Sujala Sravanthi project |
| Country | India |
| Location | Chinna Mushtur village |
| Purpose | Irrigation, Drinking water |
| Construction began | 2005 |
| Opening date | November 2012 |
| Owner(s) | Government of Andhra Pradesh |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Length | 500 kilometers |
Anantha Venkata Reddy Handri-Neeva Sujala Sravanthi project is the longest water canal project inAndhra Pradesh. It servesRayalaseema region irrigating around six lakh acres and providing reliable drinking water supply.[1]
History[edit]
It was conceived by Sir Arthur Cotton,[2] but designs were finalised during the N. T. Rama Rao government.[3] The construction started during the Y. S. Rajashekhara Reddy government[4] and inaugurated on 18 November 2012 by the Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy.[5][6][7]
The Project[edit]
The lift canal with a length of nearly 550 km, takes off from the back waters ofSrisailam reservoir and routed along the hill ridges up to high lands in Chittoor districtvia Kurnool and Ananthapur districts with many lifts / pumping stations. The canal feeds many existing tanks which are used for drinking water and irrigation needs. The main purpose of the canal is to ensure badly needed drinking water in drought prone Rayalaseema region. It is planned to use nearly 30 Tmcft water from the Krishna Riverunder this project.
The project operational requirement is 653 MW power and 1.9 billion KWh of electrical energy annually for pumping 30 Tmcft water
The first phase (220 kilometers length) of the canal up to Jeedipalli reservoir, is completed. This reservoir is located at Chinna Mushtur village in Ananthapur district.
M. Malleswara Rao
New marvel: The structure being built to accommodate one of the nine lifts of the Handri-Neeva Sujala Sravanthi project.
Handri-Neeva Sujala Sravanthi project to irrigate four lakh acres more
| India’s longest canal will flow from the project to a distance of 565 km irrigating 6 lakh acres in four Ralayalaseema districts |
HNSS will have nine lifts each supported by 12 heavy-duty pumps
Many components of the project are nearing completion
New marvel: The structure being built to accommodate one of the nine lifts of the Handri-Neeva Sujala Sravanthi project.
HYDERABAD: The scope of Handri-Neeva Sujala Sravanthi (HNSS) project has now been enlarged so that it will irrigate six lakh acres in all the four Rayalaseema districts and provide drinking water to 33 lakh people.
The project was originally planned for two lakh acres in Kurnool and Anantapur districts only with drinking water provision for 10 lakh people.
Engineering wonder
The enlarged scope of HNSS will make it another engineering wonder in the State. India’s longest canal will flow from the project to a distance of 565 km, wetting the parching hard-rock soils of Rayalaseema and tapering off at the border of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
Handri-Neeva was conceived as a dream project for the water-starved region by late K. Sriramakrishnayya, Irrigation Advisor to the then NTR government. It was NTR who, indeed, christened it as HNSS, though it is in no way connected with the rivers, Handri and Neeva.
Huge investment
The HNSS did not make any initial headway as its execution was seen as an impossible task due to huge investment required (now Rs. 6,850 crore) and problems likely to be encountered while digging the canal. It has now been taken up under Jalayagnam. Many components of the project are nearing completion now with an amount of Rs. 2,858 crore spent so far.
The HNSS will have as many as nine lifts, the highest number in the State, each supported by 12 heavy-duty pumps, a record again. The government is making arrangements to earmark 775 MW from its upcoming power projects to operate these mammoth pumps.
It will draw 40 tmcft of Krishna water from Srisailam reservoir at Malyala in Kurnool district and lift it in stages to a height of 800 ft, a feat that has been achieved in the case of Devadula project to lift Godavari water. Engineers are making deep cuts into the earth to excavate the HNSS canal as its alignment passes through ridges and hills.
8 balancing reservoirs
Eight balancing reservoirs are being provided for the canal at Krishnagiri, Pattikonda, Jeedipalli, Gollapalli, Marala, Charlopalli, Srinivasapuram and Adavipalli to ensure full flow even to tail-end areas. A plan has been finalised to provide water to some areas by the next khariff.
Galeru Nagari Sujala Sravanthi Project
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Galeru Nagari Sujala Sravanthi Project or GNSS project is an irrigation project inKadapa district, Andhra Pradesh, India.[1] It is envisaged to irrigate 155,000 acres (630 km2) in two phases, the main canal, Gandikota, Vamikonda and Sarvarajasagar reservoirs are being constructed
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