Andhra to interlink rivers with Godavari-Banakacherla project

Andhra Pradesh is set to embark on an ambitious river-linking project known as the Godavari-Banakacherla Project. Key Highlights Objective: The project aims to divert water from the Godavari River to drought-prone regions through the Banakacherla reservoir.

Benefits: Water Supply: 

Provides drinking water to 80 lakh people. Irrigation: It is expected to irrigate around 7.5 lakh acres of farmland. Drought Mitigation: Helps combat water scarcity in districts like Prakasam, Nellore, and Rayalaseema.

Phases of Implementation: Phase 1: 

Diverting Godavari water from Polavaram Project to the Krishna basin.

 Phase 2: Transporting water to the Bollapalli Reservoir. 

Phase 3: Directing the water from Bollapalli to Banakacherla.

Financial Commitment:

 The project is estimated to cost ₹70,000- ₹80,000 crore, requiring the acquisition of 54,000 acres of land. Timeline: The state government aims to complete the project within three years.

About the Godavari River The Godavari River is one of the major rivers in India and holds great significance for the regions it flows through.

Basin: 

The Godavari basin covers an area of about 312,812 square kilometers, which includes parts of Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Puducherry.