Vamsadhara River
River Vamsadhara (Oriya:ବଂଶଧାରା Telugu: వంశధార నది) (also called Bansadhara in Orissa) is an important east flowing river between Mahanadi and Godavari, in Southern Orissa and North Eastern Andhra Pradesh states in India.
The river originates in the border of Thuamul Rampur in the Kalahandi district and Kalyansinghpur in Rayagada district of Orissa and runs for a distance of about 254 kilometers, where it joins the Bay of Bengal at Kalingapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The total catchement area of the river basin is about 10,830 square kilometers.
Tourist attractions of Mukhalingam and Kalingapatnam in Srikakulam district are located on the banks of this river.
The entomology of the word Vamsadhara comes from bansa (bamboo) and dhara (water flow). This river originates from forests with bamboo trees. So, it was named as Bansadhara in Oriya and transliterated as Vamsadhara in Telugu.
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Interstate aspects [edit]
Vamsadhara river basin occupies 8015 square kilometers in Orissa and the remaining 2815 km2 flows in Andhra Pradesh. The river basin receives high annual average rainfall of magnitude 1400 mm. The portion lying in Rayagada district of Orissa is predominantly hilly and tribal populated area. Andhra Pradesh and Orissa roughly estimated that 115 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) water is available for use in the river. They entered into agreements[1] to use the available river water in 50:50 ratio. Andhra Pradesh has taken up Gotta barrage and Neredi barrage projects to put its share of water for use. However Orissa has not taken up new projects in the basin area to utilize its share of water. In fact it is diverting Vamsadhara river waters to adjacent Rushikulya river basin by constructing Harabhangi reservoir near Adaba town without taking prior consent from Andhra Pradesh. Also, Orissa has raised objections to Neredi barrage project on the grounds of land submergence in its territory.
Approximately 25% of the available water in this basin is being utilized during the monsoon season by constructing barrages across the river. Reservoirs up to 100 thousand million cubic feet water storage capacity are to be constructed for the non-monsoon period irrigation requirements, by which 100% water utilization can be achieved. Peculiar situation of this river is that most of the land to be irrigated is located in Andhra Pradesh while the possible storage reservoirs are located in Orissa. Recently, the Vamsadhara River water disputes tribunal was constituted under Interstate River Water Disputes Act[2] to resolve river water sharing issues between the two states.
The Vamsadhara Project [edit]
Boddepalli Rajagopala Rao Project was constructed on Vamsadhara river.[3]
Vamsadhara is the main river of Uttarandhra. The Uttarandhra region consists of three north coastal districts in Andhra Pradesh state in India. This region is also called Kalingandhra. Vamsadhara project is designed to meet the irrigation needs of Uttarandhara.[4]
The Vamsadhara project has two canals viz., the left main canal (LMC), irrigating about 148,000 acres (600 km2), and the right main canal (RMC) covering an ayacut of 62,280 acres (252 km2). The left main canal was completed long back. The right main canal was delayed due to various reasons. Gotta Reservoir feeds the right main canal. About 166 villages in seven mandals viz., L.N. Peta, Hiramandalam, Burja, Amadalavalasa, Gara, Sarubujjili and Srikakulam will be benefited from the RMC.
Justice Mukundakam Sharma is the chairman of Vamsadhara Water Dispute Tribunal
See also [edit]
References [edit]
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