AP becomes first state to achieve inter-linking of rivers: CM

Andhra Pradesh has become the first state in the country to achieve inter-linking of rivers Godavari and Krishna through the Pattisam Lift Scheme, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said here today.
However, Leader of Opposition Y S Jaganmohan Reddy said the state government had wasted Rs 1,600 crore as Pattisam did not have any storage capacity.
The Chief Minister made a suo moto statement in the Legislative Assembly this afternoon on the Pattisam scheme under which 8,500 cusecs of water from Godavari river would be lifted into the Polavaram right main canal and diverted to Krishna river through the Prakasam Barrage.

"Pattisam scheme has been completed in a record time of just one year. By interlinking Godavari and Krishna, crops in the Krishna Delta region are saved by timely supply of (8.8 tmc ft) water. We spent Rs 1,300 crore on Pattisam but the crops saved in the first year itself were worth Rs 2,500 crore," Naidu said.
About 80 to 100 tmc ft of water from Godavari river could be diverted into Krishna river on the upstream of Prakasam Barrage through the Pattisam scheme.
"Krishna water to this extent can be saved in Srisailam reservoir and used for the benefit of farmers in the parched Rayalaseema districts of Kurnool, Anantapuramu, Kadapa and Chittoor besides other needy areas in the state," Naidu added.

Taking part in the discussion on the subject, the opposition leader, however, said Rs 1,600 crore was sent down the drain as Pattisam scheme did not have any storage capacity.
"Krishna Delta requires 180 tmc ft of water but the government is claiming to have done wonders by pumping just four tmc ft. It was my late father (YS Rajasekhara Reddy) who completed 70 per cent of works related to the Polavaram right main canal," Jagan pointed out.
He questioned why the Chandrababu Naidu government remained silent after the Telangana government invited tenders for the Palamuru-Ranga Reddy lift irrigation scheme to divert Krishna water.