The Proposal: This link envisages diversion of water from Somasila reservoir at Pennar basin to South of Pennar. A quantum of 8,565 Mcum of water by gravity out of 10,743 Mcum reaching at Somasila reservoir (Nagarjunasagar-Somasila; 8,648 Mcum and Srisailam-Pennar; 2,095 Mcum) will flow through the link canal.  A quantity of 890 Mcum equivalent to the irrigation requirement of Telugu Ganga Project would be diverted to Kandaleru reservoir through the Somasila-Kandaleru Flood Flow Canal and 1,066 Mcum will be utilized for making of the deficit in Pennar Delta area.  This link canal will run 529 km., providing irrigation to 4.91 lakh hectares (0.49 lakh hectares in Andhra Pradesh, 4.36 lakh hectares in Tamil Nadu and 0.06 lakh hectares in Pondicherry).  Of the 8,565 Mcum proposed to be diverted through link canal, 3,048 Mcum will be for enroute irrigation,  1,105 Mcum of water is for meeting domestic and industrial requirement enroute/Chennai city and 3,855 Mcum for transfer to Cauvery river, besides the transmission losses of 557 Mcum.          

Engineering Aspect: Somasila project is an existing multi-purpose project across Pennar with FRL 100.58 m and the gross storage and live storage capacities being 2,208 Mcum and 1,994 Mcum, respectively.  The Grand Anicut or Kallanai is an age-old scheme on Cauvery with pond level at 59.22 m.  The total length of the link canal from Somasila to its outfall into Cauvery is 529 km.  The canal takes off at an FSL of 95.42 m and outfalls into Cauvery river by gravity at Grand Anicut with FSL of 60.859 m.  The link canal is proposed to be operated annually with the designed discharge of 603.33 cumecs at the take off point.  The canal is lined through out its length.

Environmental Issue: This link proposal will also pose no environmental problems as the existing reservoirs viz. Somasila, Kandaleru and Kallanai Pond at Grand Anicut shall be made use of in the link.  No waterlogging problem is anticipated, since the area is having good drainage conditions.  

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