The Chandrababu Naidu government has decided to launch the Godavari- Banakacherla interlinking project at an estimated cost of around Rs 70-80 thousand crores. It has been decided to call tenders within three months. Official sources said that in-principle approval has already been received from the Centre to provide assistance for this project.
Chandrababu Naidu has discussed it with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and others during his recent visit to Delhi. Chief Minister Chandrababu said that if water can be taken to Banakacherla, the interlinking of rivers will be completed and the interlinking of reservoirs will also be completed. He said the Godavari -Banakacherla interlinking project will be a game changer for the state.
He said that only with comprehensive interlinking of rivers can the state be able to face drought and other disasters. He said that the government has been able to store 729 TMC of water due to the proper functioning and water harvesting. He said that almost the entire state will be connected on the basis of joint districts and additional ayacut will be available.
The Chief Minister revealed that they are planning to complete the Godavari-Banakacharla linking project in a hybrid approach. He recalled that a hybrid approach was used in Rajasthan where private companies undertake the project and then the government pays them. He suggested that just as road construction is being done, private companies should also undertake the construction of projects and take over the management responsibilities.
Chandrababu said that plans have been made to complete the project in three phases. The CM said that the first phase is to divert Godavari flood water from Polavaram to Krishna River, and in the second phase, the Bollapalli reservoir will be constructed and water will be transferred there. In the third phase, water will be diverted from Bollapalli to Banakacharla regulator.
He said that Banakacharla will be the gateway to Rayalaseema. He said that this huge project will benefit Rayalaseema districts as well as Nellore and Prakasam districts. The Chief Minister said that this project will provide drinking water to 80 lakh people. He commented that 7.5 lakh acres of new ayacut will be created. It was explained that approximately 48,000 acres of land would be required, of which 17,000 acres will be forest land.