Neglect turns Vatteru Vagu into ruins

The project built to irrigate 1,160 acres has become almost defunct. Every monsoon, around 25 cusecs of floodwater from upstream areas flows through Vatteru Vagu and merges into the Godavari without being utilised

metro india news I warangal

A project built four decades ago to provide irrigation and drinking water to six villages in Warangal and Mahabubabad districts has now been reduced to a neglected structure, leaving farmers waiting for its revival.

The Vatteru Vagu Project was constructed across the Vatteru stream near Pedda Korupolu village in Nekkonda mandal of present-day Warangal district during the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh government regime. Built at a cost of Rs 18.18 lakh, the project was aimed at preventing floodwater from flowing wastefully into the Godavari and utilising it for agriculture.

The project was designed to provide irrigation facilities to around 1,160 acres belonging to farmers of Pedda Korupolu, Chinna Korupolu, Nagaram, Intikanna, Venkatagiri and Upparapalli villages in Nekkonda and Kesamudram mandals. It was also planned to fill local tanks and support agricultural activities during the monsoon season.

The project was built with a stone barrage, shutters and left and right canals to divert floodwaters. Water from streams and tanks including Yeluguru, Bokkala Matu, Appalaraopet, Thopanapalli, Venkatapuram, Suripalli, Komatikunta vagu, Eedula Cheruvu and Rampuram Cheruvu, along with forest runoff, was intended to be stored and diverted through the canal system.

The left canal was designed to supply water to tanks in Chinna Korupolu and Nagaram, while the right canal was meant to serve Pedda Korupolu, Intikanne, Venkatagiri and Upparapalli villages. Special aqueducts were also constructed at several locations to ensure smooth flow of water.

However, the project’s progress was hit by disputes over land compensation. While compensation was paid to some farmers who gave land for the project and canals, farmers from Intikanne and Venkatagiri objected to the proposed compensation of Rs 90,000 per acre for 16.23 acres acquired from them. Though canal works were completed in areas without objections, the compensation issue remained unresolved.

Over the years, lack of maintenance by the irrigation department, accumulation of silt, encroachments in the catchment area and neglect of repairs pushed the project into disuse. The barrage has now weakened, shutters have become non-functional, canals have been damaged at several places and aqueducts have deteriorated. Heavy silt accumulation has also drastically reduced the water storage capacity.

As a result, the project built to irrigate 1,160 acres has become almost defunct. Every monsoon, around 25 cusecs of floodwater from upstream areas flows through Vatteru Vagu and merges into the Godavari without being utilised.

Farmers have urged the government to take up complete restoration of the project, repair the left and right canals, rebuild damaged aqueducts, remove accumulated silt and reclaim encroached project lands. They also demanded that compensation be paid to land losers according to current market rates.

“Farmers who gave their lands for the project have not received any benefit for 40 years. We lost income as cultivation was affected. The government should provide compensation based on present market value and also consider the crop losses suffered over the years,” said Marri Narayana Rao, an ayacut farmer of the Vatteru Vagu Project.

Farmers have also suggested forming a special committee with ayacut farmers after restoration to ensure continuous monitoring and proper maintenance of the project.