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Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Drop Polavaram-Banakacharla river linkage project, says former NDMA vice chief
Hyderabad: Former vice-chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and founder-president of the Forum for Godavari waters utilisation, Marri Shashidhar Reddy, on Saturday, described the Polavaram-Banakacharla river linkage project proposed by the Andhra Pradesh government as 'a white elephant', since its estimated cost outweighs its utility. The Polavaram-Banakacharla river linkage project proposed by the Andhra Pradesh government. (ANI PHOTO) Reddy said he had written to chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on August 6 to drop the proposal for the Polavaram-Banakacharla project that seeks to divert Godavari waters to the Krishna River and then to the Pennar basin and instead follow the 'four-water concept' adopted by the Rajasthan government. Reddy, son of former chief minister Dr Marri Channa Reddy, recalled that during his earlier stint as the chief minister of combined Andhra Pradesh in 2000, Naidu had launched the 'Neeru-Meeru' programme by constituting a Water Conservation Mission (WCM) with many eminent experts, including late T Hanumantha Rao. The expert committee recommended implementation of the Watershed Development projects based on Four Waters Concept (FWC), which is effective utilisation of rainwater, soil moisture up to water table level, ground water and surface water. This technology stresses on water spreading techniques to facilitate recharge to ground water, in the upper areas of the watershed, through mini percolation tanks, he said. Reddy said the scheme launched in October 2001 covered nearly 84 villages in Telangana and about 120 villages in Rayalaseema and it had yielded excellent results. 'For instance, at Gottigaripalli village of Kohir block in Sangareddy district the scheme, implemented at a cost of about ₹5,000 per acre, consistently provided water for three crops in a year,' he said. He said subsequently, the FWC was completely ignored in the Telugu states, it was successfully implemented in Rajasthan by former chief minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia under the 'Mukhyamantri Jal Swavalamban Abhiyan' (MJSA) between 2014 and 2018. Ironically, a Telangana government engineer Md Afsar went on deputation to implement the programme in Rajasthan, he said. Reddy appealed to Naidu, who had sowed the seed for FWC during the tenure of combined Andhra Pradesh in 2001, to seriously consider it as a viable, low-cost alternative to the Polavaram--Banakacherla Project. This can be implemented in about two years, capable of providing water for three crops annually to cater to 30 lakh acres for a total cost of just ₹4,500 crore at the rate of ₹15,000 per acre at today's rates. This will be a fraction of even the minimum basic estimated cost of ₹81,900 crore for the Polavaram-Banakacharla project, he said.
Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Shashidhar urges AP CM Naidu to shelve Banakacherla project
Hyderabad: In a detailed letter addressed to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Dr. M. Channa Reddy Memorial Trust Secretary and senior public policy advocate Marri Shashidhar Reddy has urged the state government to reconsider its ambitious Rs 81,900 crore Polavaram–Banakacherla Link Project (PBLP) and instead adopt the proven, low-cost Four Waters Concept (FWC) developed by late irrigation expert T. Hanumantha Rao. The letter highlights the environmental, financial, and administrative challenges facing the PBLP, which aims to irrigate 30 lakh acres in drought-prone Rayalaseema. Reddy noted that the project requires the acquisition of 54,000 acres, including 15,300 acres of forest land, and has already been returned by the Expert Appraisal Committee of the Ministry of Environment due to unresolved concerns. Calling the PBLP a potential 'white elephant,' Reddy proposed the Four Waters Concept as a viable alternative. Developed during the Water Conservation Mission launched by Naidu in 2000, the FWC integrates rainwater, surface water, soil moisture, and groundwater to ensure year-round irrigation. It was successfully implemented in over 200 villages across Telangana and Rayalaseema, delivering water for three crops annually at a cost of just Rs 5,000 per acre. Reddy cited the success of the model in Rajasthan under the Mukhyamantri Jal Swavalamban Abhiyan (MJSA), where groundwater levels rose significantly and 25 lakh trees were planted in a single campaign. He emphasized that the FWC requires no cement, contractors, or major infrastructure, relying instead on 10 earthworks and 4 vegetative works that can be executed by farmers themselves. Comparing costs, Reddy stated that the FWC could irrigate the same 30 lakh acres for just Rs 4,500 crore — a fraction of the PBLP's estimated cost. He also referenced a similar proposal made to Telangana CM Revanth Reddy regarding the Narayanpet–Kodangal Lift Scheme, which he said could be replaced with an FWC-based model at 1/50th the cost. 'I see you as a visionary and a class apart,' Reddy wrote, expressing confidence in Naidu's leadership and requesting a meeting in Amaravati to discuss the proposal further. He also shared that the Governor of Maharashtra has agreed to initiate a pilot FWC project in collaboration with agricultural universities, signaling growing national interest in the model. As he turns 76 this month, Reddy pledged to dedicate the rest of his life to advocating for the Four Waters Concept, calling it a transformative solution for India's water security and agricultural sustainability.
