Heartening to see Godavari waters meeting irrigation needs of Krishna Delta, says Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday inspected the Godavari waters being diverted into the Krishna river through the Pattiseema project at Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada.

Mr. Naidu stopped his convoy briefly on the barrage while returning to his residence after participating in the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples in the city, and observed the waters flowing into the barrage. “It is heartening to see the barrage filled with Godavari waters,” he observed.

Officials informed the Chief Minister that 17.52 tmc ft of Godavari waters had been diverted into the Krishna river through Pattiseema so far this season. They also said that about 521 tmc ft of Godavari waters had flowed into the sea so far due to heavy inflows from upstream.

Mr. Naidu said abundant availability of Godavari water through Pattiseema was enabling the government to release water through various canals downstream Prakasam Barrage to meet the irrigation needs of the Krishna Delta.

Officials said 3,928 cusecs was being released through the Krishna Eastern Main Canal, 3,115 cusecs through the Krishna Western Main Canal, and 115 cusecs through the Guntur Canal. A total of 7,158 cusecs was being released into the canal network to supply water to the delta.

The Chief Minister said that Pattiseema water was meeting the much-needed irrigation needs amid severe rainfall deficiency attributed to the El Niño conditions. He directed the officials to make effective use of the available water resources and take all measures to overcome irrigation difficulties through efficient water management.

Mr. Naidu emphasised the need for coordinated management of river and canal systems to ensure that available water was utilised optimally and farmers in the delta received adequate irrigation support during the season.