Thursday, January 27, 2011

GODAVARI WATER UTILISATION

Date.20-3-2000                                                                                                                        
   

To
The Hon’ble Minister for Home Affairs,
Government of India,
New Delhi.

Sir,

Sub: Effective Utilisation of Godavari waters – regarding.

We are happy to note that you are making genuine efforts on the optimum utilization of Godavari waters and for the purpose you have been rightly demanding for financial assistance from international funding agencies and foreign countries like USA.
In this connection we have to state that unless the scheme prepared for utilization of Godavari waters are based on sound foundations the results that flow from the projects will not be substantial.  
As per the 1979 agreement between Andhra Pradesh and other states Andhra Pradesh is prohibited from utilizing more than 85 Thousand Million Cubic ft (TMC) from the proposed reservoir at Inchampalli and consequently Telangana districts will be deprived of large scale irrigation.
In this connection we have prepared an alternate proposal consisting of 2 reservoirs on Godavari, one in between Pranahita and Indravati and the other one above Eturunagaram.
Under this proposal 30 lakhs acres of Kharif paddy and 25 lakhs of Rabi crop (Irrigated Dry) can be grown in Telangana.  
The enclosed paper gives the details of the scheme.
Kindly take necessary action to make it a national project and save South India from facing the impending water famine and food famine in the immediate future.
Thanking You,
Yours faithfully
Prof.T.SHIVAJI RAO                                            Sri.K.NAGESWARA RAO
Director, Center for Environmental Studies,           Superintending Engineer, Irrigation
GITAM Engineering College,                                  Government of Andhra Pradesh(Retd)
Visakhapatnam.  Ph. 504902                                    1042, Nagarjuna Nagar, Hyderabad-73 
 Effective Utilisation of Godavari waters, - 2 BIG DAMS in A.P.state                 
 
The key role played by a good water supply as an engine of economic growth and as a yard stick of public welfare and national prosperity has been well recognized by the intellectuals of the developed countries like USA who aptly named water as the “Blue Gold”. The more the water wealth of a nation the higher will be the opportunities for achieving high rates of progress in the fields of agriculture production and industrial growth that help in promoting economic wealth, employment opportunities and higher standards of living.  For most of the people rice is the staple food and its availability is decreasing day by day while the population who need it for their growth and survival is fast increasing.  Consequently the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared 2004 as the International Year of Rice (IYR). The theme of the IYR - “Rice is life”- reflects the importance of rice as a primary food source, and is drawn from an understanding that rice-based systems are essential for food security, poverty alleviation and improved livelihood. Rice is the staple food of over half of the world’s population.
In Asia alone, it is observed, more than 2 billion people obtain 60 to 70 per cent of their energy intake from rice and its derivatives; it is the most rapidly growing food source in Africa and is of significant importance to food security in an increasing number of lowincome food-deficit countries. Rice-based production systems and their associated post-harvest operations employnearly 1 billion people in rural areas of developing countries and about four-fifths of the world’s rice is grown by small-scale farmers in low-income countries. Efficient and productive rice-based systems are, therefore, essential to economic development and improved quality of life, particularly in rural areas. (http://indiabudget.nic.in)

It is high time that we  plan for proper assessment and sharing of our national water resources particularly of South India for sustainable development of all the regions in the South.  In this connection the optimum utilisation of Godavari water is presented as an anti-dote against the ensuing water and food famines in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka by 2050 AD.
http://www.gitam.edu/cos/env/English-Book.pdf
   [Water,Food & Agriculture  Resourcesaugmentation by cloud seeding to meet the growing demands in Southern states of Andhra,karnataka ,Kerala and Tamilnadu ]
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE:
The ultimate irrigation potential of India is estimated at 140 million ha. Irrigation is done under conventional surface and ground water projects including 58 million ha. from major and medium, 7 million ha. from minor projects and 65 million ha. from ground water schemes.  By 1997 irrigated area touched 92 million ha. including 34 million ha. by major and medium projects, 12 million ha by minor projects and 46 million ha by ground water schemes.  The present  India population of about 1000 million in India will reach 1400 million by  2025 AD and 1645 million by 2050 AD as per UN projections.

Food grain availability in India stands today at 525 grams per capita per day.  Food grain availability in China is 412 x 106 tons for population of 1155 x 106 (980 grams per capita per day) and in U.S.A., it is 260 x 106 tons for a population of 250 x 106 (2850 grams per capita per day). The food grain needs of an Indian per capita per day works out to 600 gms at low 800 gms at medium and 1000 grams at high rates of projections.

By 2050 AD the food grain requirement will be 450 million tons per year at the present levels of consumption. Assuming that there will be moderate rise and consumption the production of  food by  2050 must be between 500 to 550 million tons   If improves technologies raise productivity from 2.5 to 3.5 tons per ha. for irrigated lands and 0.5 to 1.0 tons per ha. for rain-fed irrigation.  It is necessary to create additional irrigation potential of 25 million ha. taking the total to 165 million ha.  by  2050 AD and this additional potential can be created only by inter basin water transfer and recharge  of ground water.
WAER AND FOOD FAMINES?
In order to understand the causes for the impending water famine and food famine in India and in particular in the Southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala  it is necessary to study  the historical facts pertaining to land use cropping pattern and development of irrigation and production of food grains in India.  The following table presents the historical growth and the future projections for population, land use and food production for forecasting potential for food scarcity in India by 2050 AD.  The population growth in the Southern states along with the demand, production and scarcity for  Rice is presented below for assessing the nature and magnitude of the impending food shortage  by 2050.  The surface and ground water potential of India clearly indicates that there is abundant  scope for conservation and utilisation of water by consructing new dams and inter-basin water transfers.
The above tables clearly show that unless timely action is taken to increase food production by providing  accelerated irrigation facilities on a war footing the people of South India will have to face mal-nutrition, under nutrition and famine conditions of an irreversible nature.  In order to avert this impending crisis for water and food,  the central and state Governments of Southern states must plan for optimum utilisation of Godavari. 
HARNESSING THE FLOODS:
It is well known that frequent floods in Mahanadi and Godavari rivers cause enormous damage to human life and properties including crops.  When the farmers in the valleys of Pennar, Cauvery and Krishna clamour for rains, the states in the Gangetic belt experience cyclones and floods.  At about the same time the tributaries of Godavari in Central India and Orissa experience heavy rain fall.  Due to unforeseen changes in surface and upper winds over India, high and low pressure zones cause shifts in the low level troughs with a southward inclination with height upto 6 km.  Sometimes the monsoon trough droops down to the North West Bay of Bengal and within this zone develops a low pressure area causing a depression or cyclonic storm with the rain fall extending to about 1000 km around the Centre of the storm.  It is estimated that the South West monsoon lifts about 7700 billion m3  or about 3 lakhs Thousand Million Cubic ft.(TMC) of moisture from the Arabian sea and Bay of Bengal while the North East monsoon lifts another 3300 billion cubic meters of moisture.  Of the 11000 billion m3 of moisture lifted by the monsoon winds about 2400 x 109 m3 (about 85,000 TMC) is released as rain fall over India and the remaining moisture is transported to other countries.  65,000 TMC forms the run-off of Indian rivers and 10% of this flow is planned for storage.  Out of the 8000 TMC of rain water in the West flowing rivers, only 500 TMC is stored in reservoirs.  Hence there is an urgent need to conserve water resources and plan for their optimal utilisation for sustainable development. 

Coming to the flood situation, it is seen that  the floods in Krishna occur at 11 to 12 lakh cusecs while the floods in Godavari will be 2 to 3 times more and vary from 20 to 35 lakh cusecs.  For instance, during August  1986, the Godavari floods discharged about 1500 TMC of water into the Bay of Bengal and with a discharge rate of  36 lakhs  cusecs a day.  There was a large scale destruction of thousands of houses and crops in more than one lakh acres worth about Rs.2000 crores.  Such a wasteful discharge of flood water into the sea constitute about half the total yield of Godavari river and equals the full share of Godavari water allotted to A.P.state.  Such floods occur ones in 5 to 6 years and cause serious damage to life and property.

As a first step, the Godavari waters may be diverted firstly to meet the water  needs of Nalgonda, Mahaboobnagar, Ranga Reddy, Hyderabad  and other districts of Telangana.  Presently the Srisailam left Bank canal projects and the Krishna water supply project to Hyderabad have been taken up by the state Government.  Since there is still a growing public demand for taking up the Pulichintala and Polavaram projects the objectives sought to be fulfilled by them should be incorporated in the new project.  In order to meet the drinking and irrigation  water needs of Visakhapatnam and uplands of East Godavari  the Bhagiratha scheme may be taken up in the first instance.  The Jhanjhawati water may be made available for the growing needs of irrigation and drinking water in Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts.  All these projects must be integrated so that optimum utilisation of the Godavari river waters can be made with minimal cost.

WATER AVAILABILITY IN GODAVARI:
There are different opinions about the quantity of water available at different places in Godavari basin.  According to Krishna-Godavari commission (Gulhati) the annual flow in Godavari is 4167 TMC(See Table-8). Khosla Committee report places the dependable flow in Godavari at 3433 TMC .  Dr.K.L.Rao estimated that the annual dependable flow at Dowlaiswaram is 3500 TMC (See Fig.)  A study for 66 years  (1881 to 1946) estimated the dependable flow at  2500 TMC at 89 percent confidence in the year 1951.  The Bachawat Tribunal determined the 75%  dependable yield of the river as 2750 TMC out of which 1495 TMC was allotted  towards the share of Andhra Pradesh.  After utilising the river water for the existing projects the state is dumping into the sea about 1000 TMC in addition to another 1000 TMC from  the upper states.  During floods about 100 to 150 TMC of water is flowing per day through the river into the sea.  During the rainy season (from June to October) every day about 10 TMC flows for 2 months and 25 to 30 TMC flows during the other months, resulting in the wasting of about 2000 to 2500 TMC into the sea per year.
FOOD SHORTAGE IN SOUTH INDIAN STATES (1991-2050)
Population, Rice Demand, Production and Deficit

State
1991
2000
2025
2050

Pop
dem
Prod
def
Pop
dem
Prod
def
Pop
dem
Prod
Def
Pop
dem
Prod
def
Andhra Pradesh
66
13
11
2
80
16
13
3
110
22
12
10
140
28
10
18
Tamil Nadu
55
11
5.5
5.5
68
14
6
8
95
19
6
13
120
24
6
18
Karna-
taka
49
10
2.5
7.5
60
12
3
9
80
16
5
11
100
20
8
12
Kerala
30
6
1
5
32
6
1
5
35
7
1
6
40
8
1
7
Total
200
40
20
20
240
48
23
25
320
64
24
40
400
80
25
55
NOTE: Population  (in Millions)
             Rice production, Demand and shortages (in Million tons).
            Pop(Population), dem(Demand), Prod(Production), def(Deficit)


PRAGMATIC APPROACH FOR EFFECTIE UTILISATION OF GODAVARI WATERS

Salient Points
1. Comparison with Krishna
Name of the River
Location
Max.Flood Lakhs cusecs
75% dependabale yield
50%dependable yield
Difference
Krishna
Vijayawada
12
2060
2310
250
Godavari
Inchampalli
30
1550
2500
950
Godavari
Dowlaiswaram
34
2860
3730
870
Note: 1 ) While Krishna is practically fully-used river Godavari remains unutilised to the tune of about 75%.
2) While the upper states in the case of Krishna clamour naturally for greater share, there is no such a thing in the case of Godavari since there has not been any appreciable activity by the upper states during the last two decades in order to utilize atleast 1000 TMC of their share.
2) Inchampalli project:
i) When this project is examined in the light of what is stated above, it will be clear that it is an ill-conceived proposal, intended mainly for Hydro-power, about 970MWs, irrigation permitted being quite meager – as per the 1979 agreement Andhra Pradesh can utilize only 85 TMC from the reservoir for irrigation i.e.about 7 lakhs acres of paddy during Kharif on the ground that the tail-race waters are required to take care of the existing Godavari delta as well as the ayacut under the proposed Polavram barrage.  This stand is incorrect since the water available below Inchampalli is atleast about 900 TMC -75% dependability at Inchampally is 1550 against 2860 TMC at Dowlaiswaram-morethan enough to take care of the ayacut lower down.  As such, all the available water at Inchampalli can be utilized in Telangana.

ii)  That when about 2000 TMC of precious Godavari waters on an average per year is being wasted into the sea, utilization of the same even partially to irrigate about 67 lakhs acres in Andhra Pradesh alone – 30 lakhs acres of first crop paddy during Kharif and 25 lakhs acres of irrigated dry during Rabi (total – 55 lakhs) in Telangana alone and another 12 lakhs acres of Kharif paddy in Rayalaseema gets prohibited if Inchampalli project is taken up as per the 1979 agreement.

iii) As the entire area on the left side of Godavari from Pranahita to Inchampalli lies in the upper states (Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh), involving as much as 60% of the total submersion in those states against 40% in Andhra Pradesh, with no benefits to them, this project at FRL +112.77m will not see the light.

iv)  When there are 2 major Reservoirs on Krishna (smaller than Godavari), there must be atleast 2 much bigger reservoirs on Godavari in order to have hydro-power from the upper one and irrigation from the lower one as in the case of Krishna.  If Inchampalli is taken up it is not possible to have 2 reservoirs since Inchampalli is only about 33kms below the proposed upper reservoir in line with the ridge between Pranahita and Indravati with FRL +135m and about 40kms upstream of the lower down reservoir above Eturunagaram with FRL +105m.

v)  The only advantage at Inchampalli is the visible rocky foundation in the river bed.  Today, with earthen dam in the river proper and the spillway located at the flanks where rocky strata is available, it is not necessary to have rocky foundation in the river bed.  In our state itself, spillway is located at the flanks in the case of Somasila reservoir in Nellore district, Yeleru reservoir in East Godavari and the proposed Polavaram barrage, the last storage on Godavari.

vi) Therefore, viewed from any angle, Inchampalli project not being useful for large scale irrigation in Telangana, will have to be abandoned.

3) Modified Proposals:
i) As irrigation benefits are only in Andhra Prdesh, it is incumbent on the part of Andhra Prdesh to select such alternate sites so that submersion in Andhra Pradesh is maximum and in the upper states minimum.

ii) It is incorrect and unfortunate to talk of utilization of only balance of about 700 TMC out of 1480 TMC allotted to Andhra Pradesh.  As Andhra Pradesh is the terminal state, it is at librty to utilize the remaining water (the term ‘surplus’ is wrong) which, otherwise, is wasted into the sea. This apart, prevention of severe flood damages experienced once in a couple of years is also equally important.  The difference between 50% and 75% dependable is as large as 950 TMC against only 260 TMC in the case of Krishna. 

iii)  As copious flows are available only in the 3 months (July, August and September) the flows in October being quite meager can be utilized fully by the upper states even without any large storage.  As such, storage at the end of September determines the extent of 1st and 2nd crops.
Hence, constructions of the largest possible Reservoirs is a must in order to utilize Godavari waters effectively.

iv) Irrigation in Rayalaseema:  As Krishna will be over-used, especially after completion of Alamatti Reservoir etc. various irrigation schemes in Rayalaseema can have assured irrigation only when Krishna delta is fed from Godavari and about 200TMC thus saved at Srisailam is utilized to irrigate about 12 lakhs acres of paddy during Kharif – there is no scope for irrigated dry during Rabi for obvious reasons.

v) As copious flows are available only below the confluence of Pranahita with Godavari, only 2 sites are available – upper reservoir in line with the ridge between Pranahita and Indravati with FRL +135m and lower one above Eturunagram with FRL +105m the distance between these 2 reservoirs being about 73kms.
Under the upper reservoir submersion on the left side of Godavari is only in Maharashtra, with maximum submersion to the tune of 70%  in Andhra Pradesh.  The dam lies in both the states – FRL +135m.
Under the lower down reservoir above Eturunagaram, the entire dam lies in Andhra Pradesh only – FRL +105 m against FRL +112.77m at Inchampalli – submersion in Madhya Pradesh gets reduced substantially with negligible submersion in Maharashtra – live capacity about 300 TMC.  Even at reduced FRL +95m as proposed at Inchampalli in order to get immediate sanction, capacity will be for the ultimate FRL +105m.

4. Finances:   As the cost of the entire project to bring 67 lakhs acres – under irrigation in Andhra Pradesh – 55 lakhs in Telanagana  and 12 lakhs acres in Rayalaseema – is estimated as Rs.37,000 crores, it can be taken up only as a National Project financed mainly by the Central Government about 50% of this can be collected later through betterment levy from the beneficiaries.  When this responsibility is taken by the Central Government, about 150TMC can be diverted from the Godavari to the South during 3 flood months (July, August and September) to get over the acute problem of irrigation under Cauvery, thus benefiting both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.  This aspect is quite important in order to facilitate quick sanction.

5. Immediate Action:  Remote sensing to ascertain the rocky strata at both the sites and aerial survey preferably in April-May in order to get clear picture, if possible to have 1 m contours, are to be under taken without delay.

6. Conclusion:  As it is, there is Food deficiency to the tune of atleast 20 millions tones since about 350 millions below the poverty line do not have necessary purchasing power.  Now, in the light of water scarcity forecast in this century and in particular drought conditions forecast from 2001 or so in South East Asia, the picture is quite grim.  We may be able to get over one drought year with available 30 million tonnes of storage.  If the drought continues during the subsequent year also, one shudders to even think of the grim picture – such a situation is quite likely since we have had 12 years of more or less normal monsoons.
In the back-ground of the fragile political, economic and social structure, what will happen when food-riots break out?...
Hence , it is needless to stress that large number of major irrigation cum hydro-power projects should be taken up inorder to produce adequate food grains to feed the bulging population as well as to produce electricity renewable, pollution-free  and quite cheap_ - it is incumbent on the Central Government to provide funds to the tune of atleast Rs.20,000 crores per year solely for the national projects.  Otherwise, India will face famines as in the pre-independence era…….

Proposed Godavari Water Utilisation by constructing 2 major dams in AP  State:
For the first crop of 30 lakh acres in Telangana water will be supplied by about 350 TMC  for 3 months from July onwards for Kharif crop.  For the Rabi crop in Telangana (Dry crops) of 25 lakh acres 250 TMC will be supplied during October, November, December and January months.  For the Kharif (Paddy crop in Krishna delta about 200 TMC will be supplied during the 4 months from July to October .  For the Kharif paddy crop in Rayalaseema 50 TMC of water per month will be supplied from July to October for Kharif crop. The upper states are expected to utilize for irrigation about 25 to 50 TMC during the months of July to October.  Thus about 850 TMC will be utilized from the proposed water to be stored in the reservossirs at Suraram (Mahadevpur taluk of Karimnagar) (250 TMC live storage) and the second reservoir of 300 TMC live storage at Eturunagaram in Warangal District.   
With reservoir sluices at the level of 120 to 125 m elevation in the Suraram reservoir with FRL at +135m elevation and live storage of 250 TMC irrigation by gravity may be covered in the lands upto 90 to 95m lelevation.  Irrigation by lift system may be considered from Maneru dam to cover the areas between 95to 270m elevation by lifting the water in stages of 10m height.  In the case of the second reservoir at Eturunagram at FRL + 105m elevation and live storage capacity of about 300 to 350TMC, irrigation by gravity may be considered for lands upto 60 to 65m elevation.  About 150 to 200 TMC of water may be sent by gravity canal for kharif paddy cultivation in Krishna delta which is forced to face water scarcity due to the latest Krishna Tribunal Award and the illegal diversion of enormous quantities of Krishna waters by the upper states of Karnataka and Maharashtra wich have been provided with legal safety cover for utilizing the surplus water and remaining waters also.  The 75% dependable water of about 180 to 200 TMC allotted to Krishna delta can be saved for diversion from Srisailam to Rayalaseema through the recently enlarged Pothireddypadu regulator for utilization in Rayalaseema and if possible for further diversion into Tamil Nadu state  and thereby the water from the upper Bhadra, tunga and Alamatti dam projects can be utilized for irrigation in the upper reaches of water starved Anantapur, Cuddapah and Chittoor districts.  The elevated lands in Mahaboobnagar district can be provided with irrigation water from Jurala project and Narayanapur dam canals.  The annual water yield in the catchment basisn of the South Indian rivers can be augmented by about 25% by cloud seeding operations as promoted by China where the local and National Governments have employed 37000 techbnicians to produce about 1800 tmc of additional annual rainfall at a cost benefit ratio of 1:27.  Since this is a major project costing more than Rs.50 crores for diversion of Godavari flood waters for the benefit of Telangana region, Krishna delta and Rayalaseema and also Tamil Nadu.  It is necessary that the Central Governemnt must take the initiative to hold a joint conference of the Chief Ministers of Maharashtra, Chattisgarh, AP, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to work out a concrete programme of action for interlinking of the rivers in South India for optimal water resources management to overcome the problems of shortageof water for drinking, industry, hydro power generation, agriculture, food production, Environmental Protection and sustainable development for the economic development of the South Indian states of AP, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

GODAVARI  FLOWS AT PERUR (Kantalapally)
2 reservoirs with combined live capacity of 550 TMC. Storage available for 2nd crop



To the end of September
To the end of 1st crop
2nd crop
Flow into sea
S.
No
Year
Inflows
TMC
Utilisa
tion
TMC
Balance
TMC
Storage
TMC
Further
Utilisation   TMC
Balance
TMC
Carry-Over storage
TMC
Storage
TMC
TMC
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
1.
1968
1490
850
640
550
150
400
150
250
90
2.
1969
2900
850
2050
550
150
400
150
250
1500
3.
1970
3370
850
2520
550
150
400
150
250
1970
4.
1971
1020
850
170
170
150
20
--
20
--
5.
1972
1110
850
260
260
150
110
--
110
--
6.
1973
2420
850
1570
550
150
400
150
250
1020
7.
1974
710
710
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
8.
1975
2840
850
1990
550
150
400
150
250
1440
9.
1976
2740
850
1890
550
150
400
150
250
1340
10.
1977
1920
850
1070
550
150
400
150
250
520
11.
1978
3000
850
2150
550
150
400
150
250
1600
12.
1979
1690
850
840
550
150
400
150
250
290
13.
1980
2560
850
1710
550
150
400
150
250
1160
14.
1981
2420
850
1570
550
150
400
150
250
1020
15.
1982
1160
850
310
310
150
160
--
160
--
16.
1983
3220
850
2370
550
150
400
150
250
1820
17.
1984
1050
850
200
200
150
50
--
50
--
18.
1985
1160
850
310
310
150
160
--
160
--
19.
1986
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
250
1000
20.
1987
680
680
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
21.
1988
3220
850
2370
550
150
400
150
250
1820
22.
1989
1900
850
1050
550
150
400
150
250
500
23.
1990
3530
850
2680
550
150
400
150
250
2130
24.
1991
1390
850
540
540
150
390
150
240
--
25.
1992
1970
850
1120
550
150
400
150
250
570
26.
1993
1050
850
200
200
150
50
--
50
--
27.
1994
3520
850
2670
550
150
400
150
250
2120
Note: (i) Inflows from October being meager, are not considered – these inflows are likely to be utilized  by the upper states in due course
         (ii) Substantial excess flows are let down in 17 out of 27 years – average per year – 1300 TMC
         iii) During the years when southwest monsoon rains are likely to fail as detected by the poor rainfall received during the months of June and July the cloud seeding operations may be undertaken to augment the annual rainfall  by using aeroplanes and ground generators to seed both the warm clouds and warm clouds during day time as well as nights.
 iv)  Godavari flow at Rajahmundry is reported at 3428 TMC in 1995, 2140 in 1996, 1469 in 1997, 2907 in 1998 and 3407 in 1999.
GODAVARI INFLOWS AT PERUR (UPSTREAM OF KANTALAPALLI)

S.No.
Year
July
TMC
August
TMC
September
TMC
October
TMC
Total
TMC
Total for the year
TMC
1.
1968
290
700
500
250
1740
1900
2.
1969
570
960
1370
150
3050
3200
3.
1970
400
1770
1200
230
3600
3900
4.
1971
170
320
530
310
1330
1560
5.
1972
480
320
310
60
1170
1260
6.
1973
970
1220
630
800
3620
3930
7.
1974
80
520
110
240
950
1100
8.
1975
500
1040
1300
410
3250
3630
9.
1976
860
880
1000
60
2800
2900
10.
1977
470
800
650
130
2050
2300
11.
1978
910
1510
580
120
3120
3450
12.
1979
290
1130
270
190
1880
2240
13.
1980
460
1320
780
100
2660
2880
14.
1981
420
1270
730
370
2790
3000
15.
1982
240
620
300
140
1300
1470
16.
1983
370
1350
1500
700
3920
4170
17.
1984
230
670
150
100
1150
1280
18.
1985
290
670
200
210
1370
1540
19.
1986
Good year but the detailed information is not available
20.
1987
200
280
200
70
750
860
21.
1988
900
1230
1070
580
3780
3960
22.
1989
640
730
530
160
2060
2220
23.
1990
640
1930
960
720
4250
4830
24.
1991
400
820
170
80
1470
1600
25.
1992
220
1230
520
80
2050
2200
26.
1993
290
440
320
160
1210
1500
27.
1994
1130
960
1430
220
3740
4200

ANNEXURE

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HYDRO-POWER AND
RIVER VALLEY DEVELOPMENT

This was held at New Delhi during December 1-2, 1999.  The object of the Conference was to focus attention on river valley development and hydroelectric generation aiming at their accelerated development.
A panel discussion on the theme ‘Inter-relationship of Dams and Environment, Economy, Habitat and Health’ was also arranged.
At the valedictory session, Dr CP Thakur, Minister of Water Resources, Government of India stated: Mankind is at the centre of environment which cannot be protected unless the basic needs of food, drinking water and energy are expeditiously met by accelerated vital improvement of environmental conditions through irrigation, water supply, hydro and multipurpose river valley projects.  It is time to re-emphasise the requirements of these projects in order to ensure a better and prosperous future.  The water resource development should be seen in right perspective and not be blocked any longer through overstatements of adverse environmental impacts or irrational approach towards the issues involved.  Shri.B.Marandi, Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Government of India, in his address emphasized: “River valley projects are bound to remain the lifeline in view of the Indian economy remaining predominantly agriculture based.
It was strongly emphasized by the experts participating in the Conference that the so-called environmental activists and many other people associated with the environmental work in India neither have a proper understanding of the environmental processes nor were aware of the techniques of planning and operation of hydropower and river valley projects.  The result is when the talk about the environment, they tend to overstress only one or two aspects of the problem.  The environmental process and planning of sustainable river valley projects are quite intricate and multi-disciplinary subjects. It is most unfortunate that some activists and novelists have equated large dams with nuclear bombs ignoring tremendous benefits from these projects.  (Extract from IEI News Jan 2000)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:  This article is greatfully dedicated to a very eminent irrigation expert with deep theoritical knowledge, vast field experience and creative intellect late Shri.Kanakamedala Nageswara Rao with whom I worked in the Public Works Department of the Governsment of Andhra Praaesh at Nagarjuna sagar dam during the initial days of my Engineering carrier.  As an Environmental expert associated with the Environmental Appraisal Committee of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests for clearance of river valley projects I had the opportunity to assess the Environmental Impactsof major projects like Tehri Dam, Alamatti dam and several other projects and in the process I realised that the river flow of Krishna is going to be diverted to a large exgtent for the requirements of the irrigation and hydro-power generation by the Upper states of Maharashtra and Karnataka.  Durisng my interactions with sri.K.Nageswara Rao garu and late Dr.K.Sriramakrishnayya, former advisor to the AP State Government I have impressed upon them to avoid the food famine and water famine waiting in the wings in the Krishna delta and we discussed extensively about the alternate methods of providing water for sustainable development of the Krishna delta.  During these discussions we extensively considered several algternatives and finally concluded that the construction of 2 major dams on Godavari one at Suraram and the other one at Eturunagaram with a barrage at polavaram will enable the AP State Government to make optimal utilisation of Godavari floods and this article is an outcome of those efforts and it is for the AP state farmers and farm workers to exert pressure over thee lected representative in the state Assemably and the Parliament to take interest in the construction of these projects for the benefit of Telangana, Rayalaseema, Krishna delta and other parts of South India.

No comments:

About Me

My photo
Born in 1932 at Mudinepalli, near Gudivada, Krishna Dist. Andhra Pradesh, received Bachelors degree in Civil Engg., from Viswesaraiah Engineering College, Banglore (1956) and Masters Degree in Environmental Engineering from Rice university, Houston, Texas, (USA) (1962), Ph.D (Hony). Former Head of the Department of Civil Engineering and principal of College of Engineering, Andhra university.Formerly Hony.Professor in Andhra University,Manonmanian Sundarnar University,JNT University. Fellow of the Institution of Engineers,India Recipient of the University Grants Commissions National Award "Swami Pranavananda Award on Ecology and Environmental Sciences" for the year 1991. Recipient of Sivananda Eminent Citizen Award for 2002 by Sanathana Dharma Charitable Trust, Andhra Pradesh state. Presently Working as Director, centre for Environmental Studies, GITAM University, http://www.geocities.com/prof_shivajirao/resume.html http://www.eoearth.org/contributor/Shivaji.rao