Here is an alternative to Polavaram
Avoids displacement of tribes, destruction of vast timber reserves
Hyderabad: The Indirasagar (Polavaram) mega multipurpose project has been making it to headlines of late for obvious reasons – threat of colossal damage to environment, huge displacement involving two lakh population in 299 villages, a majority of them being primitive tribal groups, and submergence of two lakh acres, mostly timber reserves and pristine forests of Godavari valley.
In view of this, an alternative proposal to the Polavaram project itself, but affords all its benefits, is fast gaining acceptance among the intellectuals in the state. Moreover, it has drawn the support of the main losers of the Polavaram project – the tribals.
The plan, put forth by a retired Chief Engineer M Dharma Rao, comprises two components. It banks mainly on diversion of water from two points – the Sileru basin and the Dummugudem barrage. Rich flora and fauna, more particularly some native plant species, face the risk of extinction due to the Polavaram project in its current design.
Neither the environmentalists who are up in arms against the project nor the constitutional guarantees to the affected tribal communities could come in the way of the project’s implementation. The project has become an exception to the norms laid down in the national water policy for taking up such a major project.
But the alternative plan would yield almost the same benefits that are expected under the Polavaram dam. There is an ample scope to avoid rather completely the suffering and disruption expected from the present design, which was given a go-ahead despite all its ill–effects on the state as a whole, according to Mr Dharma Rao.
His plan has gained the acceptance of the tribal leaders, who have been desperately opposing the project that would spell the doom for their communities.
The environmentalists have also been largely supportive of Mr Rao’s plan as it envisages tunneling to carry water underground, thus sparing the large pockets of greenery that made Khammam one of the densely forested districts in the country.
The alternative proposal which comprises two components is banking mainly on diversion of water from two points – the Sileru basin and the Dummugudem barrage. The Sileru River has many existing hydro-electric schemes contributing a regular flow of 5000 cusecs.
The regulated flow can be harnessed by constructing a barrage across the river below Lower Sileru Hydro Electric Scheme near Mothugudem of Khammam.
Component-I
Waters thus diverted could be channelled into Yeleru River through tunnels and it can be linked to the Left bank main canal of the project below the Yeleru reservoir. The proposed diversion takes off from an elevation of 600 feet and as it negotiates a fall of 500 feet to reach the designed ayacut area. The water flow can be harnessed to generate some 500 MW of hydel power, too.
The scheme also envisages construction of balancing reservoirs across the smaller streams including Sokuleru and Pamuleru. The scheme would make available some 100 TMCFT of water - TMCFT from the regulated flow of the Sileru basin and 25 TMCFT from the balancing reservoirs.
Component-II
The existing anicut across Godavari at Dummugudem village could be improved to store water up to +165 ft level. The anicut is at a higher elevation compared to Polavaram. A perennial flow of more than 35,000 cusecs would be ensured.
It would make 600 TMCFT of water available at 75 per cent dependability. About 180 TMCFT of water can be diverted from the anicut and about 80 TMCFT of it could be rerouted to the Krishna barrage.
A major canal can be proposed from the right flank of Dummugudem anicut and aligned to run parallel to Godavari River up to Kinnerasani River. It needs a tunnel to be provided to carry the water across the Godavari–Krishna ridge. All the benefits envisaged as part of the Polavaram right canal can be achieved by the second component. The tail-end ayacut of the Nagarjunasagar Left Canal can also be served.
The Polavaram project canals which were already constructed ahead of starting work on the dam could be utilised if the alternative scheme is opted for, says Mr Dharma Rao. It also poses no major environmental complications, he adds.
Curtesy: The Hans India
In view of this, an alternative proposal to the Polavaram project itself, but affords all its benefits, is fast gaining acceptance among the intellectuals in the state. Moreover, it has drawn the support of the main losers of the Polavaram project – the tribals.
The plan, put forth by a retired Chief Engineer M Dharma Rao, comprises two components. It banks mainly on diversion of water from two points – the Sileru basin and the Dummugudem barrage. Rich flora and fauna, more particularly some native plant species, face the risk of extinction due to the Polavaram project in its current design.
Neither the environmentalists who are up in arms against the project nor the constitutional guarantees to the affected tribal communities could come in the way of the project’s implementation. The project has become an exception to the norms laid down in the national water policy for taking up such a major project.
But the alternative plan would yield almost the same benefits that are expected under the Polavaram dam. There is an ample scope to avoid rather completely the suffering and disruption expected from the present design, which was given a go-ahead despite all its ill–effects on the state as a whole, according to Mr Dharma Rao.
His plan has gained the acceptance of the tribal leaders, who have been desperately opposing the project that would spell the doom for their communities.
The environmentalists have also been largely supportive of Mr Rao’s plan as it envisages tunneling to carry water underground, thus sparing the large pockets of greenery that made Khammam one of the densely forested districts in the country.
The alternative proposal which comprises two components is banking mainly on diversion of water from two points – the Sileru basin and the Dummugudem barrage. The Sileru River has many existing hydro-electric schemes contributing a regular flow of 5000 cusecs.
The regulated flow can be harnessed by constructing a barrage across the river below Lower Sileru Hydro Electric Scheme near Mothugudem of Khammam.
Component-I
Waters thus diverted could be channelled into Yeleru River through tunnels and it can be linked to the Left bank main canal of the project below the Yeleru reservoir. The proposed diversion takes off from an elevation of 600 feet and as it negotiates a fall of 500 feet to reach the designed ayacut area. The water flow can be harnessed to generate some 500 MW of hydel power, too.
The scheme also envisages construction of balancing reservoirs across the smaller streams including Sokuleru and Pamuleru. The scheme would make available some 100 TMCFT of water - TMCFT from the regulated flow of the Sileru basin and 25 TMCFT from the balancing reservoirs.
Component-II
The existing anicut across Godavari at Dummugudem village could be improved to store water up to +165 ft level. The anicut is at a higher elevation compared to Polavaram. A perennial flow of more than 35,000 cusecs would be ensured.
It would make 600 TMCFT of water available at 75 per cent dependability. About 180 TMCFT of water can be diverted from the anicut and about 80 TMCFT of it could be rerouted to the Krishna barrage.
A major canal can be proposed from the right flank of Dummugudem anicut and aligned to run parallel to Godavari River up to Kinnerasani River. It needs a tunnel to be provided to carry the water across the Godavari–Krishna ridge. All the benefits envisaged as part of the Polavaram right canal can be achieved by the second component. The tail-end ayacut of the Nagarjunasagar Left Canal can also be served.
The Polavaram project canals which were already constructed ahead of starting work on the dam could be utilised if the alternative scheme is opted for, says Mr Dharma Rao. It also poses no major environmental complications, he adds.
Curtesy: The Hans India
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