AP CM inaugurates Owk tunnel- 2

Mettupalli: With the release of water to Owk Reservoir, an integral part of the Galeru-Nagari Sujala Sravanthi (GNSS) project, the government has fulfilled the long cherished aspirations of Rayalaseema people. Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday dedicated the Tunnel 2 of the Owk Project to the people by unveiling its pylon and releasing 20,000 cusecs of water from Gorakallu Reservoir to Owk Reservoir amid chanting of hymns by Vedic pandits here.

The government has so far spent Rs 1501.94 crore on Owk Tunnels with Rs 567.94 crore being incurred on Tunnels 1 and 2. Out of the 5.801 km length of Tunnel 3, an extent of 4.526 km has been completed at a cost of Rs.934 crore. The works relating to the rest of 1.275 km are in full swing. The total cost of the Tunnel 3 is estimated to be Rs 1297.78 crore.

Last year, the Chief Minister dedicated to the people Nellore and Sangam barrages which are the lifelines of Penna delta and the Handri-Niva Lift Irrigation project that will fetch water to 77 lakes to meet the drinking and irrigation needs of the western parts of Nandyal and Kurnool districts.

Due to the sustained efforts of the Chief Minister, the government paid a compensation of Rs.1000 crore to the displaced persons of Gandikota Reservoir in which 26. 85 TMC of water could be stored in successive years from 2019.

The displaced persons of Chitravati Reservoir were paid compensation Rs.250 crore after which officials had succeeded in storing water to its capacity level against the storage of 4 TMC of water during the TDP rule. The Irrigation Department could also maintain capacity water levels in Velugodu Reservoir from 2019 after the government spent Rs.500 crore and completed the lining works of the link canal and Telugu Ganga canal.

The Owk Project witnessed hectic activity when Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy was the Chief Minister as the then government spent Rs.340.53 crore completing the major portion.

The project was neglected between 2014 and 2019 as the TDP Government abandoned the fault zone spending a meagre Rs.81.55 crore following which the present government sanctioned necessary funds and completed the Tunnel 2 with Rs 145.86 crore, the Chief Minister said.

While Tunnels 1 and 2 facilitate the daily release of 20,000 cusecs of water into the Owk Reservoir during flood season, completion of Tunnel 3 will facilitate release of another 10,000 cusecs daily.

With the completion of the tunnels, Gandikota, Vamikonda, Sarvaraya Sagar, Mylavaram and Paidipalem reservoirs will receive additional 1 TMC of water daily for irrigating 2.60 lakh acres in the undivided Kadapa, Chittoor and Nellore districts besides stabilizing 1.31 lakh acres of Ayacut and providing drinking water to 20 lakh people in 640 villages.

While it will help fill the Gandikota Reservoir in 15 days through Galeru-Nagari flood canal, Rayalaseema will receive 2 TMC of water daily in flood season.