Road-cum-barrages on Godavari Mooted.

Telangana government has decided to toe the line of Karnataka and Maharashtra and is proposing to construct road-cum-barrages on river Godavari. Taking a cue from Maharashtra and Karnataka states, the Telangana government is also proposing to construct a series of road-cum-barrages across Godavari as part of its aggressive developmental plans of irrigation sector.

'Road-cum-barrages will be constructed across river Godavari, as construction of major projects are not possible on Godavari in the state,' official sources confirmed with Express.

Maharashtra and Karnataka have constructed 256 road-cum-barrages on Godavari and around 80 such constructions are on on rivers Krishna and Bhima.

On the lines of these states, the state government is also planning to construct road-cum-barrages with each barrage capable of storing one to two tmc water.

Irrigation officials are in touch with the panchayat raj, R&B and National Highways authorities, where road-cum-barrages are required in the state. The idea is to provide transportation to the people and also utilise Godavari waters. The state could not use around 500 tmc of its assured water in Godavari and the same has been flowing down to AP for several years now. The LIDAR survey, which started on Thursday, will be conducted across 750 km stretch on Godavari in the state. Once the LIDAR survey report is in the number of road-cum-barrages would be decided, sources added.

The road-cum-barrages will be used for public transportation and small gates will also come up wherever there is a possibility to lift the water. The water stopped at barrages will also be used to maintain ecological balance. 'The water will be provided to animals in the forest and also drinking water to the locals,” sources said.Thus three main objectives can be achieved through road-cum-barrages - irrigation, transportation and also maintaining ecological balance.

Meanwhile, the state Cabinet recently has decided to spend Rs 25,000 crore over the next three years for irrigation sector. This year the government will spend Rs 6,000 crore.

Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao directed the finance department to give lumpsum amount to irrigation department. 'The irrigation department need not consult finance department for money and the works will be completed as per the schedule. The CM will monitor spending of the money and see that the money is utilised properly,' sources said.

Meanwhile, Kaleswaram Lift Irrigation Corporation and Palamuru-Rangareddy Authority, which was approved by the Cabinet, will be floated soon.

Kaleswaram barrage is planned with assured waters, thus the government is floating a Corporation. But, Palamuru-Rangareddy is planned on flood waters. That is the reason for floating an Authority.

THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS