WATER RESOURCES

A) Profile of the Department

In Nellore District mainly three main Government agencies that are working for the creation and maintenance of irrigation sources for the benefit Ryots.

A.1. SOMASILA PROJECT

The Somasila Project was constructed across river Pennar near Somasila Village of Anantha Sagaram Mandal in S.P.S.R. Nellore District with a Gross storage capacity of 78.00 TMC at FRL +100.58 Mts (+330 Ft). River Pennar originates on the slope of Nandi hills in Karnataka State, and the basin of Pennar River is fed by a number of tributaries viz Cheyyeru, Papagni, Chitravathy, Kundu and Sagileru.

The foundation stone for this project was laid on 04.06.1975 by the then Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Sri Jalagam Vengalrao garu.

A.2. S.S.LC. & S.B. CIRCLE

a) Telugu Ganga Project is an Inter-State Project formulated to irrigate 5.75 lakh acres in drought phone areas of Rayalaseema and uplands of Nellore and Chittoor Districts in Andhra Pradesh by utilizing 29TMC of Krishana flood flows and 30TMC of Pennar flood flows. Further it also provides drinking water to Chennai City utilizing 15TMC of Krishna water with 5 TMC share of each state of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra.

In Nellore District, the project provides Irrigation facilities under Kandaleru Reservoir to an extent of 2,25,826 acres New I.D and 95,197 acres of Wet Stabilization under M.I. Tanks under the jurisdiction of SSLC & SB Circle, Nellore and T.G.P & G.N.S.S Circle, Tirupathi. There is also a provision of power generation of 3×3 MW at head regulator of Kandaleru Dam.

b) Somasila- Swarnamukhi Link Canal is intended to stabilize 96780 Acres of wet ayacut under 316 M.I Tanks in Nellore and Tirupati Districts. It is also proposed to irrigate 26,000 acres of new ayacut in Nellore and Tirupati Districts. In view of difficulty in acquisition of large extent of alienation of Forest lands including Wild Life sanctuary, the department conducted detailed survey and came to a conclusion that it is not possible to detour the forest reaches up to Km.56.250 and alternate proposals are made for early stabilization of ayacut and for providing drinking water facilities by completing the canal from Km.56.250 to Km.100.425.

A.2.3 IRRIGATION CIRCLE,NELLORE

In the jurisdiction of Irrigation Circle, Nellore, there are one major Irrigation Project, Three medium Irrigation Projects and 1746 Minor Irrigation tanks. Pennar delta system is the Major Irrigation Project with an ayacut of 2,47,000 Acres wet. Gandipalem project(now named as P.C.R. Gandipalem Project) with an ayacut of 16,000 acres, Kanpur canal system with an ayacut of 33,000 acres and Swarnamukhi Barrage with an ayacut 9022 Acres wet are the three Medium irrigation Projects.

There are 1761 Minor Irrigation sources in the District with a total ayacut of 2, 81,412 Acres. The MI Sources comprises 725 M.I. Tanks with more than 100 acres and 979 M.I tanks with less than 100 acres, 20 River channels, 31 M.I. Anicuts and 6 M.I. other sources (Spring Channels). Out of the above M.I. Tanks an ayacut of 1,01,562 Acres is getting stabilization under Somasila and Telugu Ganga Projects and the balance extent of 1,66,268 acres is rainfed.

B) ORGANISATION CHART

C) Schemes/Activities/ Action Plan :

C.1 SOMASILA PROJECT

C. 1.1. DAM & APPURTENANT WORKS:

The construction of dam and appurtenant works were commenced in the year 1976 and completed during the year 1989 and the reservoir is impounded to a maximum capacity of 73.017 TMC on 30.11.2010 against its full reservoir capacity of 78.00 TMC. The Project consists of 3 Canals i.e. 1) G.K.N. Canal/North Feeder Channel, 2) South Feeder Channel and 3) Bezawada Papi Reddy Canal/Kavali Canal. The Canal wise details furnished below.

C.1.2 CANALS (03 Nos):

C.1.2.(i) GKN CANAL (NORTH FEEDER CHANNEL):

The GKN Canal takes off from left side head regulator of Somasila Dam and original length of canal is 73.920 Kms. The excavation and construction of structures is completed except in forest reaches. The ayacut so far developed is 41,400 Acres as against the contemplated ayacut of 43,000 Acres. The GKN Canal Extension (from Km.73.920 to 104.50 up to Rallapadu Reservoir in Prakasam District) was taken up under Package.32. The contemplated ayacut under canal extension is 98,500 Acres (Nellore District: 58,500 Acres & Prakasam District: 40,000 Acres).

C.1.2.(ii) SOUTH FEEDRER CHANNEL:

The Canal takes off at Km.2.58 of SKFF Canal which starts from right side head regulator of Somasila Dam and length of Canal is 74.725 Km. The excavation and construction of structures is completed except in forest reaches. The ayacut so far developed is 35,500 Acres as against the contemplated ayacut of 41, 000 Acres.

C.1.2.(iii) BEZAWADA PAPI REDDY CANAL (KAVALI CANAL):

The Canal takes off at Km.1.609 of Kanigiri Reservoir Feeding Channel which starts at Sangamanicutand length of Canal 67.619 Km. The excavation and construction of structures is completed except in forest reaches. The ayacut so far developed is 74,000 Acres as against the contemplated ayacut of 75,000 Acres.

C.1.3 STATUS OF WORKS:

C.1.3(i). Package Works on GKN Canal, SFC & Kavali Canal:

Modernization work on GKN Canal (North Feeder Channel) was taken up on EPC system under Package.11 and Package.96 i.e. from Km.0.00 to Km. 73.92 to increase the carrying capacity of canal from 380 C/s to 772 C/s and Extension of GKN Canal (North Feeder Channel) from Km. 73.920 to Km 104.50 was also taken up under Package.32 to feed Rallapadu Reservoir and to create 98,500 Acres of new ayacut with a total amount of Rs.211.844 Crores. The Progress of all package works and their status is hereunder.

C.1.3(ii) Non-Package Works:

The works of Drilling & Grouting of Left side retaining wall of SKFF Canal and Energy dissipation on downstream spill way of Somasila Dam are in progress in respect of SP Division No.1, Somasila.

The works of Construction of Pick up weir across Upputeru river near Chintaladevi village, Kondapuram mandal, SPSER Nellore District and Conducting DGPS Survey & mapping for the forest lands for canals and foreshore submersion and CA lands as desired by the FAC (Forest Advisory Committee) were completed in respect of SP Division No.4, Atmakur.

The works of Restoration and Improvements to DPs under South Feeder Channel are near completion in respect of SP Division No.6, Nellore.

C.2 S.S.LC. & S.B. CIRCLE

C.2.1. COMPONENT WORKS:

C.2.1.1 Somasila – Kandaleru Flood Flow Canal starts from Somasila Reservoir taking off through Right Head Regulator and joins into Kandaleru Reservoir. It is intended to carry flood waters of Pennar River along with 15.00TMC of Krishna Water to Kandaleru Reservoir with discharging capacity of 339.8 Cumecs (12000C/S) and having a total length of 51.25Kms. The widening of Somasila Kandaleru Flood Flow Canal (SKFF) from Km 0.000 to Km 45.125 is taken up to increase the discharge capacity from 12,000 cusecs to 24,000 cusecs. The work was awarded to M/s VPR-GDR-MRGR (JV), Hyderabad vide Agreement 01CE/2021-22, Dated.12-05-2021 for an Agreement Value of Rs. 776.33 Crores and work is in progress.

C.2.1.2 Kandaleru Reservoir was formed across the Kandaleru River near Chellatur Village in Rapur Mandal of Nellore District. The Kandaleru Reservoir is intended to impound the flood waters of River Pennar to provide irrigation facilities 3.00 lakh acres in Nellore and Tirupati Districts and to supply 15.00 TMC of Krishna waters to Chennai City for drinking purpose.

C.2.1.3 Irrigation Canals under Kandaleru Reservoir (TGP Canals 1 to 9 and KR Left Canal): The Satya Sai Ganga Canal (K.P. Canal) starts at Head Regulator (R/S) of Kandaleru Reservoir and ends into Poondi Reservoir in Tamilnadu State with 1 to 9 Branch Canals. This main canal is intended to carry 15.00 TMC drinking water to Chennai City and to Irrigate about 3.00 Lakh acres under 1 to 9 Branch Canal taking off from this canal in Nellore and Tirupati Districts. The total length of the main canal is 151.887KM up to Tamil Nadu Border. The total length of this canal is excavated and in operation since 1990. The length of the Satya Sai Ganga Canal (SSG Canal) covered under SSLC & SB Circle, Nellore is from Km.0.000 to Km.67.500 consisting of Branch Canals 1, 2A, 2B, 3, 4, 5, 5A, 6, 7A, 7B and K.R. Left Canal. The SSG canal from Km.67.500 to Km.151.887 including Branch Canals 8A, 8B and 9 is under the control of T.G.P & G.N.S.S Circle, Tirupati. The head discharge is 113.70 Cumecs (4000c/s).

C.2.2 SOMASILA – SWARNAMUKHI LINK CANAL IN NELLORE & TIRUPATI DISTRICTS

The Somasila Swarnamukhi Link Canal is proposed from Km. 12.520 of Somasila – Kandaleru Flood Flow Canal and runs for a length of 100 Kms, through the drought prone areas of Rapur, Venkatagiri, Srikalahasti, Erpedu Mandals and ends into Marlapaka Tank in Erpedu Mandal of Tirupati District. In view of difficulty in acquisition of large extent of alienation of Forest lands including Wild Life sanctuary, detouring of canal alignment in forest reaches are examined and found that it is not possible to detour the Canal up to Km.56.250. Detouring of canal alignment in forest reaches beyond Km.56.250 is possible in 3 reaches out of 5 reaches with minimum forest alienation to an extent of 7.36 Ha. which results the canal is through from Km.56.250 to Tail end is approved for Rs.30.75 crores. The Following are the alternate proposals for the Somasila Swarnamukhi Link Canal.
Alternate proposals for the Somasila Swarnamukhi Link Canal are as follows.

•  Providing Lift Scheme from Km 34.100 of SSG Canal to Km. 56.250 of SSLC near Althurupadu Balancing Reservoir with 60 days of pumping period.
• Construction of Althurupadu Balancing Reservoir at Km.56.250 with storage Capacity of 0.900 TMC and Construction of Rajulapalem &Panguru Combined Balancing Reservoir with additional capacity of 0.600 TMC
• Inletting Alapaleru, Godderu, Repalli Vagu & 8 other minor vagus are proposed to be inletted in to SSL canal.
•  The Althurupadu Lift Scheme work was awarded to M/s Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd, Hyderabad vide Agreement 34SE/2018-19, Dated.24-08-2018 for an Agreement Value of Rs.110.88 Crores. The work is under progress.
• The Althurupadu Reservoir work was awarded to M/s HES Infra Private Limited, Hyderabad vide Agreement 43SE/2018-19, Dated.17-01-2019 for an Agreement Value of Rs. 244.18 Crores. The work was stopped in compliance to the instructions issued by the Government in the U.O Note No:FIN01-FMUOA8D(WRI)/80/2019 ( Copy No:89889) Dt:29.05.2019. Further, The work was Retendered and awarded to M/s BVSR Constructions Pvt Ltd., Hyderabad vide Agreement 01SE/2020-21,Dated: 15.06.2020 for an Agreement value of Rs.185.97 Crores.The work was pre closed as per the instructions issued by the Government. An estimate for balance work was re-casted for Rs.550.00 Crores with SoR 2024-25 which is to be submitted to the Government for approval.

C.2.3 Somasila High Level Lift Canal:

Somasila High Level Lift Canal Scheme is intended to divert 5.0 T.M.C. of Pennar flood waters from Somasila reservoir to provide Irrigation facilities to the upland drought prone area in Udayagiri and Atmakur Constituencies to an extent of about 90,000 Acres in Marripadu, Duttaluru, Atmakuru, Vinjamuru, Udayagiri and Ananthasagaram Mandals in SPSR Nellore District besides providing 0.2 TMC for drinking water to the 58 Revenue Villages in Six Mandals enroute for a projected population of 2,35,266 by 2041.The work has been awarded to M/s. MEIL-Prasad (JV), Hyderabad for Phase – I works for creating an I.P. of 43,200 Acres and the work is in progress.

C.2.4 KR Left Canal Lift Irrigation:

Construction of Kandaleru Dam was completed during the year 1997 and started impounding. A high level sluice was constructed at Km 0.990 of K.R Dam with a sill level of +74.00 M with a head discharge of 323 C/S to feed K.R Left Canal. The ayacut contemplated under this canal is 20700 acres of ID benefitting 32 villages under Chejarla, Podalakur, Nellore Rural and Venkatachalam Mandals in SPSR Nellore district. As the sill level of the sluice is fixed at +74.00 M keeping in view of feeding high level ayacut, water can be released through this sluice only after getting filled the reservoir above +74.000 M level ie when the reservoir attains a capacity of 30 TMC as against the gross storage capacity of 68.030 TMC.

In view of the above, KR Left canal Lift Scheme was taken up with pumping of 260 C/s of water from Low level sluice to High level sluice.The work is entrusted to M/S Mega engineering & infrastructures Ltd for Rs 53.15 Crores and the work was completed and the scheme is in functioning.

C.2.5 BARRAGES ACROSS PENNAR RIVER NEAR NELLORE AND SANGAM IN S.P.S.R. NELLORE

4C.7.1 NELLORE BARRAGE:

Nellore Anicut was constructed during the year 1855 for a length of 621.79Mts. The Survepalli Canal and Jaffer Saheb Canal are two main Canals, which are feeding water to an extent of 97,000 Ac. Ayacut under delta tanks and direct ayacut. The anicut became very old and hence it is proposed construction of barrage cum bridge under Modernization of Pennar Delta System near Nellore town.

PRESENT STATUS OF NELLORE BARRAGE:

The Nellore Barrage was completed and inaugurated by the then Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh on 06.09.2022 and has come into working by storing water in the foreshore. Accordingly, water is released to canals for three crop seasons for an ayacut of 99,525 acres under Pennar Delta system, under Survepalli canal & Jaffer-sahib canal.

4C.7.2 SANGAM BARRAGE:

Sangam Anicut was constructed across Pennar River during 1882-1887 contemplating to supply water to Nellore Tank Supply Channel and Kanupur Canal on right side and Duvvur Canal, Kanigiri Main Canal and Kavali Canal on left side.

PRESENT STATUS OF SANGAM BARRAGE:

The Sangam Barrage was completed and inaugurated by the then Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh on 06.09.2022 and has come into working by storing water in the foreshore. Accordingly, water is released to canals for three crop seasons for an ayacut of 3,85,000 acres under Pennar Delta system, Kavali and Kanupur Canals.

C.3.IRRIGATION CIRCLE,NELLORE

C.3.1 MAJOR IRRIGATION:

Pennar Delta System functions under two anicuts, namely SANGAM ANICUT and NELLORE ANICUT having total ayacut of 2,47,000 Acres benefitting 161 Villages in 12 Mandals.

C.3.1.1 MODERNIZATION OF PENNAR DELTA SYSTEM:

Modernization of Pennar Delta system was taken up under 5 Packages namely Package No. 1 PD, Package No. 34, Package No. 35, Package No. 39 and Package No. 40. Package Nos.34, 35, 39 & 40 were closed. Package 1PD is under progress.

Total Agreement value of 5 packages : Rs. 559.36 Crores.

Expenditure upto August 2019 : Rs. 430.01Crores

Programme for completion : 31.12.2019.

C.3.1.2 DRAINAGE SYSTEM UNDERPENNAR DELTA:

Improvements to 2 Major drains, 10 Medium drains and 3 Minor drains were taken up in which 1 Major drain, 9 Medium drain works and 2 Minor Drain works were completed and remaining works are in progress.

Total Agreement Value : Rs.16.91Crores.

Expenditure upto August 2019 : Rs.12.93Crores.

Programme for completion : 31.12.2019.

C.3.2 MEDIUM IRRIGATION:

• Swarnamukhi Barrage was completed in May 2008 to stabilize 9022 Acres under 10 MI tanks in Two Mandals.
• PCR Gandipalem Project was completed in 1981 to irrigate an ayacut of 16,000 Acres in Udayagiri and Varikuntapadu Mandals. Storage Capacity is 1.88 TMC
• Kanupur Canal System is designed to draw water from Pennar River to stabilize the ayacut of 33,000 Acres under 85 Tanks to benefit 32 Villages in 4 Mandals.

Modernization of Kanupur canal system was taken up under 3 packages (KCD1, KCD2 and Package No.4).

Total Agreement value : Rs. 131.84 Crores.

Expenditure upto August-2019 : Rs. 86.97 Crores.

Programme for completion : 31.12.2019.

C.3.3 FLOOD BANKS:

Improvements to Flood Banks of Swarnamukhi River, Kalangi River and TsallaKalva River were taken up under 5 packages and 3 Non-EPC. Swarnamukhi River L/S flood bank work (SWM1) was completed. Remaining 7 Flood Bank works are in progress.

Total Agreement value : Rs. 273.24Crores.

Expenditure upto August 2019 : Rs. 160.22 Crores.

Programme for completion : 31.12.2019.

C.3.4 MINOR IRRIGATION:

There are 1761 Minor Irrigation sources in the District with a total ayacut of 3,08,412 Acres.

D) CONTACTS

E) Email /Postal address

E) Website links relating to the Department

• https://irrigationap.cgg.gov.in
• http://www.apwrims.ap.gov.in/reservoir