Telangana urges MoJS to expedite drainage congestion studies on Polavaram at FRL
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The Telangana government requested the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) to expedite the drainage congestion studies and implement protective measures in the areas identified as those to be affected by submergence and backwater of the Polavaram project at its full reservoir level of 45.72 meters.
In a recent letter addressed to the Secretary MoJS Archana Varma, Secretary (Irrigation) of Telangana E. Sridhar brought to the formerβs notice that the Chief Executive Officer of Polavaram Project Authority along with his team and irrigation department officials had inspected the backwater submergence areas in and around Bhadrachalam town in the first week of June.
They had inspected lands identified to come under submergence and studied the effect of backwater on streams, drainage congestion and functioning of outfall sluices during the visit. The field inspection also covered both banks/flanks of Godavari river covering Kinnerasani, Peddavagu, Edulavagu, Thurubaka, Etapaka and other local streams. Further, they verified the demarcated boundaries of Polavaram backwater at FRL.
Mr. Sridhar also explained to the MoJS Secretary in his letter that the PPA team had inspected outfall sluices at Etapaka, Kotha Colony, Vista Complex and Subhashnagar Colony and recorded that all of them lie below the FRL of 45.72 meters. Discussions were also held with the authorities of the Heavy Water Plant near Manuguru on the potential backwater impact on the plantβs operations and infrastructure.
The team had also recorded the concerns raised by Bhadrachalam and Pinapaka MLAs Tellam Venkata Rao and Payam Venkateswarlu, respectively. Later, the PPA had addressed its observations to the Hydrological Study Organisation of the Central Water Commission to conduct drainage congestion studies on six streams of Telangana along with cross-sectional survey data completed for five streams.
Citing the critical nature of submergence in Telangana, the Telangana official stressed the need for urgent protection measures by completing the drainage congestion studies, finalising demarcation of submergence areas and initiating protection measures with embankment construction, land acquisition and pumping arrangements at the earliest. He wrote to the MoJS Secretary that all the issues and concerns raised by Telangana were acknowledged by the CEO of PPA.
He urged the MoJS official for an early resolution of the issues/concerns as they are of utmost importance for safeguarding lives, livelihoods and infrastructure in Telangana.
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