The Proposal: A gross quantum of about 21,520 Mcum including surplus waters of Godavari and 6,500 Mcum of water received from Mahanadi is planned for diversion to Krishna basin through three links, of which Inchampalli-Nagarjunasagar link is the first one.  This link will transfer 16,426 Mcum of water over a length of 299 km that includes 9 km. of tunnel.  This link will provide total enroute irrigation to the tune of 2.87 lakh hectares, of which 1.78 lakh hectares falls under Kakatiya Canal Stage-II of Sriramsagar Project and 1.09 lakh hectares under Srisailam Left Bank Canal by utilizing 1,427 Mcum for enroute irrigation requirement and 562 Mcum towards transmission losses. This link will require a total lift of 107 m. utilizing 1,960 MW of power.  There is also a provision to generate 975 MW of peaking power at Inchampalli dam by installing reversible turbines.  Also a canal power house of 70 MW is proposed at Musi reservoir enroute.  A provision of 237 Mcum of water has been made towards domestic and industrial requirement enroute.   Finally, about 14,200 Mcum will be transferred to Nagarjunasagar reservoir on Krishna for further southward transmission.

Engineering Aspect: For this proposal, two dams namely Inchampalli on Godavari as proposed by Andhra Pradesh Government with FRL 112.77 m and another existing Nagarjunasagar dam on Krishna with FRL 179.83 m are considered.  The gross and live storages of these reservoirs are 10,374 Mcum, 4,285 Mcum, 11,560 Mcum and 5,733 Mcum, respectively.  The total length of the link canal is about 299 km between Inchampalli and Nagarjunasagar including about 9 km tunnel portion for crossing Godavari-Krishna ridge.   The FSLs at head and tail are 141.00 m and 180.254 m respectively.  The link canal is proposed to be operated throughout the year with the designed discharge of 1,090 cumecs.

Environmental Issue: Under Inchampalli reservoir total submergence will be to the extent of 92,555 ha. of which 21,734 ha is reserved forests, for which compensatory afforestation will be provided.  About 1 lakh persons will be affected by the reservoir.

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