Andhra Pradesh Revives Plans for Two More Barrages on Krishna River
Amaravati: The Andhra Pradesh government has revived plans to build two additional barrages on the Krishna River, with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu directing officials to revisit earlier proposals and forward them to the Centre for consideration.
The proposed barrages are intended to help the state capture and store more water flowing through the Krishna, particularly during periods when heavy local rainfall sends water from streams and tributaries into the river.
Naidu issued the directions during a review of heavy rains, flood conditions and water storage in reservoirs on September 26. The government is looking at ways to conserve more of the water that would otherwise flow downstream when existing facilities reach capacity.
The proposal itself is not new. In 2018, during the previous Telugu Desam Party government, plans were drawn up for a barrage at Vaikuntapuram upstream of Prakasam Barrage and another at Chodavaram downstream.
Under the earlier proposal, the Vaikuntapuram barrage was envisaged with a storage capacity of about 10 TMC, while the Chodavaram barrage was planned with a capacity of about 2.7 TMC.
Vaikuntapuram lies between the Pulichintala project and Prakasam Barrage. The earlier plan envisaged the project as a way to improve water availability for the Amaravati region while also strengthening water security for the Krishna delta.
Plans for additional infrastructure on the lower Krishna subsequently changed. In 2020, the then YSR Congress government gave administrative approval for two barrages at Chodavaram and Bandikollanka downstream of Prakasam Barrage, according to reports at the time.
The latest direction from the Chandrababu Naidu government, however, seeks to revive the earlier proposals involving barrages upstream and downstream of Prakasam Barrage.
Importantly, the latest development represents a revival of project proposals, rather than confirmation that construction of the two barrages has received all necessary approvals or is about to begin.
Heavy inflows at Prakasam Barrage
The renewed focus on water storage comes amid substantial flows in the Krishna following recent rains.
On September 25, inflows and outflows at Prakasam Barrage were reported at 54,929 cusecs. Authorities opened 65 gates by one foot and released about 47,125 cusecs of surplus water downstream.
Andhra Pradesh's Water Resources Information and Management System also recorded Prakasam Barrage at its full storage level, with about 3.071 TMC of water.
Prakasam Barrage is a critical component of the Krishna delta irrigation network. Krishna district government information says the delta system serves an ayacut of about 13.08 lakh acres.
If the revived barrage proposals eventually secure the required approvals and move into construction, they could provide additional capacity to retain water during high-flow periods and improve water availability around the Amaravati-Vijayawada region and the Krishna delta.
However, key details — including the final locations, updated designs, storage capacities, revised project costs and required clearances — will become clear only as the government develops and submits the proposals.
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