In a historic move, the water of the two great rivers of the South — the Godavari and the Krishna — were formally connected on Wednesday.
Under the Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Scheme, executed by the Chandrababu Naidu government within six months, the Godavari waters reached the Krishna, covering a distance of 175 km.
Naidu, on Wednesday, inaugurated a pylon named Pavitra Sangamam near Ibrahimpatnam in Krishna district. He went on to Pattisam in the West Godavari district, where he started the first pump to lift waters from Godavari in to the Polavaram right bank canal.
“Twelve years ago, an attempt was made on my life when I was going for Tirumala brahmotsavams. Today, as the brahmotsavams are beginning again, the interlinking of the two sacred rivers took place. I am fortunate to have witnessed such a great event and I congratulate all those who made this feat possible,” said Naidu.
The linking of the two rivers was originally envisaged as part of the river linking programme initiated by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. And the Polavaram project, now accorded a national project status, was supposed to achieve it by taking the 80 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of surplus waters from the Godavari to Krishna through its right bank canal.
But as the Polavaram project itself would take at least four more years to be completed, the Naidu government decided to use the Godavari flood waters in the interim.
The major benefit of this interlinking would be to the farmers and people of Rayalaseema.
But as the Polavaram project itself would take at least four more years to be completed, the Naidu government decided to use the Godavari flood waters in the interim.
The major benefit of this interlinking would be to the farmers and people of Rayalaseema.