Vijayawada: The proposed Godavari-Banakacherla mega irrigation project has hit its first roadblock as the AP Genco came out with an analysis that it is not possible to produce more than 400mw power from the pumped storage plants, solar and hydel units along the proposed canal route.
This estimate has prompted the water resources department to take a detailed study of the issue as its field engineers initially projected that installation of solar and hydel generation units along the canal will help generate around 3400mw of power. The water resources department had also heaved a sigh of relief as the initial estimates projected that the power generated through the canal is not only sufficient to bring the dream project into operation but create surplus power. However, the study of AP Genco has changed the entire picture.
The state govt proposed Godavari-Banakacherla scheme to make use of Godavari surplus water to feed drought hit regions of the state including Rayalaseema. The project was designed based on separate lift schemes, gravity canal and reservoirs. This big-ticket project is estimated to cost around Rs 80,000 crore. The state govt had already requested the Centre to support the project with financial assistance as it was aimed at transforming the drought-hit regions by making effective usage of the surplus flood water. Interestingly, the Centre had also responded positively to the proposal and asked the state govt to send the Detailed Project Report (DPR). Meanwhile, the state govt floated a separate Jala Harathi corporation to execute the project.
The state govt is also contemplating to rope in private players to execute the project under Public Private Partnership (PPP) model to meet the financial component. However, the water resources department had to finalise the modalities as to how it wanted to manage huge power requirements to operate lift irrigation schemes before launching the work.
Water resources department’s initial plans projected generation of about 230 MW of power through pumped storage at Bollapalli reservoir and another 200 MW at Siddapuram reservoir. It has also planned to generate at least 1000 MW near Guttikonda. Similarly, it wanted to generate another 2000 MW of power through solar panels along the canal, taking the total generation to about 3430 MW. While the actual requirement to operate the project is around 3,300 MW, it thought of having surplus power.
