Picchukalanka (Andhra Pradesh): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday said that 117 new gates are being fixed at over Rs 150 crore for the Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage in Dowleswaram for its protection.
Addressing a public meeting here in Dr B R Ambedkar Konaseema district, the chief minister observed that the barrage gates are being modernised.
“We are modernising Dowleswaram Barrage (Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage) gates, a project which is crucial for the Godavari Delta. We are fixing 117 new gates with Rs 152 crore to protect the barrage,” Naidu said, adding that the gates will be installed in nine months.
Directing officials to complete the installation by June next year, he said the project should be finished well before the Godavari Pushkaralu scheduled for next year. Officials informed the Chief Minister that about 27,000 cusecs of water is currently flowing into the sea, while 14,700 cusecs are being released through the canal system. The Chief Minister instructed officials and public representatives to ensure continuous monitoring so that irrigation water reaches the tail-end ayacut lands.
Arthur Cotton’s anicut had transformed the Godavari Delta into the `Rice Bowl’ of the country, Naidu said adding the new barrage built during the tenure of former Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao enabled irrigation for an additional crop.
The barrage, with a storage capacity of 2.9 TMC and the ability to handle flood flows of 32.2 lakh cusecs, provides irrigation to 10.13 lakh acres across the Eastern, Central and Western Delta regions.
However, after more than five decades, the gates, motors and electrical systems have become outdated, making modernization essential, he said.
Polavaram Project
On the Polavaram Project, Naidu said 72 percent of the works had been completed during 2014-19, while only two percent progress was achieved over the subsequent five years. After the coalition government assumed office, work has accelerated significantly, with overall progress now reaching 89 percent, he said.
The displaced families in the project region would receive complete justice, with no compromise on rehabilitation or compensation, he added, according to a release.
