AP Commissions Godavari-Krishna Interlinking Project

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today commissioned the Pattiseema lift irrigation project that lifts flood waters from the Godavari river and transfers it to the Polavaram right canal that then takes the waters into the Krishna river at the Ibrahimpatnam Ferry village about 20 km from Vijayawada, thus interlinking the two rivers, which will provide water for agriculture in the drought-prone Rayalaseema region comprising the Chittoor, Ananthapur, Kurnool and Kadapa districts, in addition to the Krishna, Guntur and Prakasam districts.

3,000 TMC of Godavari waters go waste into the sea every year, and 80 TMC of these will now be sent into the Krishna river through this scheme, which will help irrigate the Krishna delta which is prone to droughts.

The Chief Minister visited the Pattiseema village in the West Godavari district where the 24 motor pumps comprising the Pattiseema project that lift water from the Godavari and let it into the Krishna are located, and performed puja for the pump house.

The project was completed in a record eight months by the Andhra Pradesh government, and will provide assured irrigation water for two agricultural crops round the year to about 17 lakh acres of farmland, The Times Of India has said.

Naidu said that the interlinking of the Godavari and the Krishna was a historic moment in the history of Andhra Pradesh.

Speaking to media on the occasion, Naidu said, "It was my aim to make Rayalaseema a drought-free region by using the wasted Godavari waters, and interlinking of the two rivers has facilitated diversion of water from the Godavari into the Krishna river. To achieve this aim, ministers and officials have worked day and night relentlessly."

Expressing happiness over the commissioning of the interlinking of the Godavari and Krishna rivers, Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu said that it was a great day for India which aims to interlink all major rivers, and that with the successful commissioning of Pattiseema, the Ganga-Cauvery interlinking works would also begin soon.

Union minister and TDP leader Sujana Choudhary said it was a festive day for Andhra Pradesh and the TDP. Interlinking of the Godavari and the Krishna rivers would be written in golden letters in the history of the State, he said. The people would remember forever the work being done by Chandrababu Naidu, he added.

Choudhary also said that NITI Ayog was considering the issue of special status to AP.