Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy inaugurated the Nellore and Sangam barrages on Tuesday, revitalizing the Penna River canal system. The inauguration fulfilled a long-held dream of the people of Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore district.
The barrages were constructed at a cost of Rs 326 crore and would stabilize an area of approximately 4.85 lakh acres. In the 1880s, the then British rulers constructed an anaicut at Nellore and Sangam to meet irrigation needs as well as provide drinking water to several mandals in the SPS Nellore district, in addition to Nellore town.
However, the two structures outlived their usefulness, leaving the people yearning for new barrages as well as carriageways. The two new barrage works were launched in 2008 by then-Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, but progress was slow. The projects were completed by the current government, led by his son Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy. The Sangam Barrage is now named after Mekapati Goutam Reddy, a former minister who died of a heart attack in February of this year.
Sangam Barrage has an ayacut of 3.85 lakh acres, of which 2.47 lakh acres are in the Penna Delta. The Sangam Barrage is 1,195 metres long and has 79 crest gates and six scour sluice vents. The two-way road on the barrage would improve traffic flow between Sangam and Podalakuru mandals.
The river's banks, which run for about 7 kilometres, have also been strengthened as part of the project, according to State Water Resources Department officials. To ensure effective water supply to the ayacut, two regulators have been built on the Kanigiri-Kavali and Kanupuru canals.
The Nellore Barrage has 43 spillway gates and 8 scour vents. It has a storage capacity of 0.45 million cubic feet of water. For traffic flow, the barrage has a 7.5-m carriageway. The Nellore Barrage controls approximately 99,000 acres and provides drinking water to residents of Nellore and 77 surrounding villages.
The Chief Minister agreed to sanction Rs 15 crore for the construction of a road connecting the Sangam Barrage to the National Highway-16, in response to a request from Atmakuru MLA Mekapati Vikram Reddy. He also approved Rs 40 crore for minor irrigation work in the region, Rs 14 crore for road construction to 25 unconnected habitations, and a Rs 12 crore special grant for Atmakuru municipality.
In addition, the Chief Minister approved a Rs 4 crore project to provide drinking water from the Sangam Barrage to the Sangam Gram Panchayat. The inaugural function of the barrages was attended by Water Resources Minister Ambati Rambabu, Agriculture Minister Kakani Govardhan Reddy, MPs, legislators, and senior officials.
