VIJAYAWADA: Experts have urged the State government to scrap the Polavaram–Banakacherla lift irrigation scheme and the Rayalaseema lift scheme of the previous regime, calling them ineffective for drought-prone Rayalaseema. Instead, they suggested investing Rs 10,000– Rs 15,000 crore to irrigate 10 lakh acres, create stable jobs for 10 lakh people, and generate substantial wealth.
The Thinkers’ Forum urged Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to address inefficiencies in Krishna River water management, highlighting concerns over the Srisailam reservoir. In a letter released Tuesday, members AB Venkateswara Rao, Akkineni Bhavani Prasad, T Lakshminarayana, and Jonnalagadda Ramarao criticised governments for neglecting ayacut needs and wasting resources, citing 500 crore on the Rushikonda palace and 750 crore on the Rayalaseema scheme. Rao suggested repurposing the palace as a hospital or IT hub.
Lakshminarayana opposed the Inchampalli-based Godavari–Cauvery link, backing instead a Polavaram–Somasila–Cauvery linkage to conserve Krishna waters for Rayalaseema. He warned that Inchampalli could cut Polavaram inflows, jeopardising the project. He also questioned why Rayalaseema reservoirs remained underfilled despite abundant flows, citing Gorakallu, Gandikota, Brahmasagar, and Somasila–Kandaleru operating below capacity due to incomplete canals and poor systems.
Bhavani Prasad pointed out that 450 TMC had flowed into the sea from Prakasam barrage and pressed for the Vaikuntapuram reservoir’s completion to harness floodwaters.
The Forum emphasised that reservoir filling is meaningless without effective distribution. They urged the government to prioritise practical irrigation solutions, stabilise Nagarjuna Sagar canals, develop new ayacut through Veligonda, and prevent further wastage.